MARINE INVERTEBRATES | How Life Without a Backbone Rules the Sea | OCEAN WILDLIFE 4K Documentary

🪸 Fish get the attention, but they do not rule the reef. About 95 of every 100 animal species described on Earth have no backbone, and in the sea they built the reef, arm it, heal it and feed it. This 4K ocean documentary explores marine invertebrates, from coral polyps and giant clams to nudibranchs, octopuses, mantis shrimp and cleaner shrimp, to show how life without a backbone rules the sea. Along the way we meet the soft-bodied builders behind the coral reef, the stinging weapons of anemones and jellyfish, the sea slug that steals those weapons, the octopus that pours through gaps in the rock, and the tiny cleaner shrimp that a big fish trusts with its open mouth. 🌊 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN How tiny coral polyps build the limestone walls of a coral reef, and why a reef holds about a quarter of known marine species on less than 1% of the ocean floor How giant clams farm algae inside their own bodies, and how anemones, jellyfish and comb jellies catch prey without a backbone How nudibranchs store stolen stinging cells, why their bright colors are a warning, and how sea hares use purple ink How octopuses, cuttlefish and the mimic octopus change color and shape, and why the blue-ringed octopus is one of the most dangerous animals on the reef How crabs, lobsters, hermit crabs, decorator crabs and mantis shrimp use armor as defense, disguise and weapon How cleaner shrimp, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sea stars, feather stars, barnacles and plankton quietly keep the whole ocean food chain running ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Who really rules the reef? 03:20 The walls are alive 09:23 Weapons you cannot see 15:28 The slowest thief on the reef 24:13 The mind without a bone 32:13 Knights in armor, and a doctor 39:22 The ones no one notices 44:40 Closing: look past the fish 🐙 FEATURED MARINE LIFE Coral polyps, giant clams, sponges, Christmas tree worms, sea anemones, clownfish, moon jellyfish, comb jellies, nudibranchs, sea hares, flatworms, common octopuses, coconut octopuses, mimic octopuses, cuttlefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopuses, crabs, lobsters, hermit crabs, decorator crabs, peacock mantis shrimp, cleaner shrimp, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sea stars, brittle stars, feather stars, barnacles and plankton. 🔬 SCIENCE NOTES Roughly 95% of described animal species have no backbone; fish and humans belong to the small group that does Coral reefs cover under 1% of the ocean floor yet are home to about a quarter of known marine species (widely used estimate) Coral polyps are close relatives of jellyfish and sea anemones and build limestone cups beneath their soft bodies Giant clams host algae in their mantle tissue and can live for around a century Some nudibranchs keep unfired stinging cells from the animals they eat; others store chemicals from sponges Octopuses have about two thirds of their nerve cells in their arms; coconut octopus shell carrying is regarded by many scientists as tool use, though not all agree Blue-ringed octopus venom contains tetrodotoxin, produced by bacteria living in the animal; there is no antidote Peacock mantis shrimp strikes have been measured at about 23 meters per second Hermit crabs can line up by size and swap shells in a chain 💙 If this journey speaks to you, liking and subscribing is the kindest way to help us keep making these films. Which animal without a backbone surprised you most? Tell us in the comments 👇 #MarineInvertebrates #OceanDocumentary #CoralReef ⚠️ Disclaimer: this video is for reference and general interest only. It is not an official lecture, course or scientific publication.