What is the longest marine organism and what length does it reach? Hint, not a blue whale.

BRY2K

Posidonia Oceanica? The boffins have found a strand of Posidonia which measures an incredible 8 kilometres and has been growing for at least 100,000 years. This makes it the biggest and oldest living organism in the world today. The Posidonia grows only in the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas and performs several vitally important environmental functions. It consumes CO2 and generates oxygen and it also helps to revitalise and replace the sands on the beaches of the area. Because of the proliferation of this plant around Ibiza and Formentera the islands are noted for their beautiful beaches and the clarity and colour of their waters. http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm Jul 17 08, 7:55 PM

zbeckabee

Because certain siphonophores can reach lengths of many decameters, they are arguably the longest organisms on earth. See Page numbered 33 on first link: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~haddock/abstracts/haddock-photoprotein-marked.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonophore http://www.pbs.org/saf/1207/resources/transcript.htm http://cnn.bokefu.com/2005/TECH/science/07/07/redlightlure/index.html Jul 17 08, 8:01 PM

BRY2K

Now THAT is an interesting resource,zbeck. (I hope the author got an "A") Jul 17 08, 8:03 PM

zbeckabee

I liked the pictures best. Jul 17 08, 8:17 PM

BRY2K

LOL!! Jul 17 08, 8:26 PM

jk18

Hydrozoans (Hydrozoa). The colonial siphonophore Praya dubia can attain lengths of 40-50 m (130-165 ft). Also: Ribbon worms (Nemertea) The largest nemertean, and the longest extant animal, is the bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus. A specimen found washed ashore on a beach in St. Andrews, Scotland in 1864 was recorded at a length of 55 m (180 ft). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_organism Jul 18 08, 5:46 PM