The Bizarre World Of Underwater Sneezing

TL;DR

Sneezing underwater is a common occurrence among various underwater animals and serves the same purpose as human sneezing - to remove unwanted particles from their passages.

Transcript

Thanks to Linode for supporting this SciShow video! You can get a $100 60-day credit on a new Linode account at linode.com/scishow. We all sneeze now and then, whether it’s a quiet a-choo or a thundering roar. And like it or not, sneezing does serve a purpose. Basically, your body is trying to kick whatever is irritating you to the curb by spewing ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 Underwater animals, like sponges and corals, have unique ways of sneezing to remove unwanted particles.
• 🪤 Sponges use mucus highways and contractions to expel particles, while corals constantly produce mucus to trap and slough off sediment.
• 😒 Hagfish have a defense mechanism that involves producing copious amounts of slime, and they can also use their singular nostril to clear out irritants.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do sponges remove unwanted particles through sneezing?

Sponges expel particles through the same pores they entered, using mucus highways that transport the particles to the surface where they are shed into the surrounding water.

Q: Why do corals sneeze and how do they do it?

Corals sneeze to get rid of unwanted sediment. They produce mucus to trap the particles and slough them off into the surrounding waters, and their expanding and contracting movements help shake off the contaminated mucus.

Q: How do hagfish use sneezing as a defense mechanism?

Hagfish can produce an impressive amount of slime almost instantly to clog up the mouth and gills of their attackers. This slime production is triggered as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened.

Q: Do hagfish have nostrils, and how do they use them for sneezing?

Hagfish have a singular nostril, and it is used to clear out their own slime or external irritants. Similar to a sneeze, irritants can trigger a sneezing response within seconds.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Underwater animals, including sponges and corals, have their own unique ways of sneezing to remove unwanted particles from their bodies.

• Sponges use mucus highways to expel particles through the same pores they entered, while corals constantly produce mucus to trap and slough off sediment.

• Hagfish, known for their slime production, can sneeze by expelling mucus through their singular nostril or by releasing a concentrated slime to defend against attackers.