@jake.pnwAug 24, 2026 · 1:02 · original sound
You Won’t Believe What’s Hitchhiking On These Animals! 😱 Some of the strangest animals I find on the Oregon Coast are actually living on other animals. Crystal jellyfish can sometimes carry tiny hyperiid amphipods, small crustaceans that associate with gelatinous animals like jellyfish. Depending on the species and life stage, they may use the jelly for transportation, protection, food, or even as part of their development. But shrimp can have some seriously strange passengers too. Upogebia mud shrimp can be infected by the invasive parasitic isopod Orthione griffenis. Unlike the amphipods I find moving around on jellyfish, this parasite wedges itself inside the shrimp’s gill chamber beneath the carapace and steals resources from its host. A heavily infected shrimp can even develop a noticeable bulge on one side of its body. The crazy part is that amphipods and isopods are both crustaceans, meaning these tiny animals are relatives of shrimp and crabs. But they’ve evolved completely different ways of surviving alongside other marine animals. The next time you’re exploring the coast, take a closer look. There may be an entire interaction happening on an animal you almost overlooked. What’s the strangest animal interaction you’ve ever seen? #education #learning #animals #nature #Oregon
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