[新聞] 美國發現罕見海洋生物酷似水母有觸角

當地居民在美國華盛頓州的海岸發現一些罕見海洋生物，該生物外形酷似水母，卻在一端長有綠色觸角與能夠收縮的肢體。

據新華網報導，這種罕見生物呈凝膠狀，半透明，其一端並排長著觸角與能收縮彎曲的肢體。當地專家也稱，首次發現這種奇怪的海洋生物，暫不清楚其名稱。

華盛頓州當地官員稱，這種生物的出現或與當地氣候變化有關，牠們正不斷向北遷徙，尋找合適的居住地。當地專家稱，暫時沒有發現該種生物帶來的危害，但他們仍將密切關注其數量的變化。

Half jellyfish, half slug? the strange sea creature washing up on the Washington coast to the surprise of marine experts

Local residents are seeing an increase in the creatures known as salps due to climate shifts, say local marine experts
The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end

Beach combers and marine educators near the Washington state coastline are finding something they’ve never before seen on the shores.

A gelatinous, nearly transparent sea creature that resembles a jelly fish and a slug, known as a salp.
The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end.

What is it? This gelatinous, nearly transparent sea creature that resembles a jelly fish and a slug is known as a salp

該生物外形酷似水母，卻在一端長有綠色觸角。
Odd: The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end

From what scientists know, the species shouldn’t be able to survive in the cold North Pacific, NBC News reports.

‘This was a first stumper for me in many years,’ local environmental educational specialist Alan Rammer told the news outlet. ‘I didn’t know what it was.’

The reason local residents are seeing an appearance of salps in 2013: ‘We have climate shift going on,’ says Rammer.

‘It’s moving north and inhabiting an area that wasn’t habitable for it.’
Salps move through the ocean by contracting, thereby pumping water through their gelatinous bodies.

The slimy creatures strain the pumped water through its internal feeding filters, feeding on phytoplankton in the process.

當地相關專家也稱，首次發現這種奇怪的海洋生物，暫不清楚其名稱。
Strange occurrence: From what scientists know, the species shouldn¿t be able to survive in the cold North Pacific

Increase: But local residents near the Washington state coastline are seeing an appearance of salps in 2013: 'We have climate shift going on,' says Rammer

An NBC reporter was able to find two of salps within a couple of hundred yards.

Commercial crab fishers are finding them in their crab pots.

So far the creatures haven’t caused any problems, locals say. However, fish and wildlife watch groups are keeping an eye on the increase of salps.