as small as a world and as large as alone

3:35am August 5, 2014

for-science-sake:

The Venus Flower Basket Euplectella aspergillum is a type of sponge that engineers its own fibre glass tube. Each tube usually homes a mating pair of bioluminescent shrimp, the pair enter when the are young and once they are large enough they are never able to leave, however their offspring are small enough to leave to seek a new tube and a mate.

These shrimp feed on the left overs of the filtering by the sponge and in return the sponge has its own cleaning service trapped within its walls- the light produced by the shrimp also attract and supply a rich food source for both. 

In Japan these symbolise ”to death do us part” and are traditional as a wedding gift.

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