Slime Apocalypse in Venice: Canals Taken Over by Jellyfish with Disappearing Anuses (4 photos)

I couldn't ignore the disappearing anuses of the cannibal jellyfish, sorry. It sounds too epic.





If tourists and floods were previously considered Venice's main scourge, it's time to get acquainted with a new threat. The famous canals have been attacked by one of the most dangerous invasive species on the planet, Mnemiopsis leidyi.

Colloquially known as the "warty comb jelly" or the "sea walnut," this alien is officially included in the list of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in the world. Now it has literally occupied the Venetian Lagoon.



The comb jelly looks like a harmless, transparent aspic, but in reality, it is a true ecological terminator. It consumes plankton and fish larvae on a massive scale. Local fishermen find mountains of slime in their nets instead of their catch. The region's ecosystem is on the brink of collapse due to this creature's voracity. The most terrifying aspect is their behavior. These creatures are acknowledged cannibals. When regular food is scarce, they will not hesitate to eat their own young to ensure the survival of the population.





The comb jelly's most distinctive feature has baffled even experienced scientists. This creature has been discovered to have a unique physiology, in the form of a disappearing anus. The opening appears on the jellyfish's body only during defecation. Immediately after defecation, it heals completely, turning into a smooth surface. Biologists are shocked by this organism's design, and the internet is discussing this strange "design" of nature.



The comb jelly has no natural enemies in the waters of the Adriatic. It reproduces at a breakneck pace and can turn a thriving lagoon into a "lifeless desert" of slime. Venetian authorities are already trying to find a way to stop this slimy invasion before the city's canals become a complete jellyfish soup.