Fauna
Invertebrate

Pyrosoma atlanticum

Pyrosoma atlanticum

Also known as Atlantic Pyrosome, Sea Pickle

Floating as a hollow, translucent cylinder through open ocean waters, this colonial creature is composed of thousands of cloned zooids arranged around a shared central cavity. Each individual zooid pumps water through its own feeding basket into the interior tube, generating a gentle collective jet propulsion that drives extensive daily vertical migrations from deep water to the surface. When disturbed by mechanical pressure or nearby light, the entire colony responds with intense, coordinated waves of blue-green bioluminescence across its tunic.

BioluminescentColonialPelagic
Pyrosoma atlanticum reference1 / 2
(c) Rosie Yacoub, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDiatoms, Dinoflagellates, Picoplankton
Predators
  • Ocean sunfish
  • Loggerhead sea turtle
  • Blue shark
ThreatsOcean warming, shifting marine currents, and marine plastic pollution
HabitatsPelagic open ocean waters across temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones
Life spanSeveral weeks to a few months
Classification
  1. OrderPyrosomatida
  2. FamilyPyrosomatidae
  3. GenusPyrosoma
  4. SpeciesPyrosoma atlanticum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Night diving: Watch for pale blue-green bioluminescence triggered by nearby water movement.
  • Gentle observation: Avoid touching drifting colonies, as their gelatinous walls tear easily.
Related species
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