Lucite Paperweight - Clear (3 Blocks Set)

Real Sand Jellyfish (skin) - Rhopilema hispidum, Starfish (Flatbottom Seastar - Asterias amurensis) and Shrimp (Oriental River Prawn - Macrobrachium nipponensis) specimen encased in rectangular indestructible, transparent lucite block. Safe, authentic and completely unbreakable product put real specimens right at your fingertips!

Anyone can safely explore the specimens from every angle.

They are clear enough for microscope observation.

Size of the jellyfish skin is 3x2 cm (1.2x0.8 inch)

Length of the Starfish body is 2.1 cm (0.8 inch)

Size of the Shrimp is 4.0 cm(1.6 inch)

Size of each lucite block is 4.5x3.0x2.0 cm (1.8x1.2x0.8 inch)

Weight of each block is 30 gram and 45 gram with packing box.

This is a handmade real animal specimen craft. Each one will be a bit different (specimen size, color and posture) even in the same production batch.
The pictures in the listing are just for reference as we are selling multiple pieces with same pictures.
 

They are ideal learning aid for students and kids and also a very good collectible item.

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Sand Jellyfish - Rhopilema hispidum

Subkingdom: Radiata   Phylum: Cnidaria    Subphylum: Medusozoa   Class: Scyphozoa   Subclass: Discomedusae

Order: Rhizostomeae   Family: Rhizostomatidae    Genus: Rhopilema

Sand Jellyfish (Rhopilema asamushi or Rhopilema esculenta) is a species of jellyfish from the genus Rhopilema. Other species of jellyfish belonging to this group include Rhopilema hispidum and Rhopilema nomadic. They are inhabitants of the Indian Ocean and are found in locations like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, China and some parts of the North Atlantic coastline. This species of jellyfish is very to rare to find in marine waters around the American coastlines.
Sand jellyfish is so called because of their distinct coloration and because the surface of the skin appears to have a granular texture. The bell of the sand jellyfish normally grows between 2- 4.5 cm in diameter. Unlike a number of other jellyfish, the sand jellyfish does not appear to have any distinct pattern of pigmentation. The bell has a definite curvature and the jellyfish appears dome-shaped. There are about 8 oral arms that emerge from the centre of the jellyfish. They are fused and appear like a mass of smoothed fur. They usually protrude out of the middle of the sand jellyfish like an inverted pyramid. This part of the sand jellyfish's body is perhaps its stoutest part and appear thick and leathery. A number of frills and filament may appear to be hanging from these oral arms.
The fascinating aspect of the sand jellyfish is that the edges of its oral arms appear to be inflatable. When they are deflated, they appear like thin threads of white-ish color, but when they are inflated, they resemble puffy spears. Lamentably, little is known about this particular species of jellyfish and the purpose of this facility of inflation is not yet determined. We also do not now very much about their reproductive functions, or their feeding habits. In captivity, they have not responded to freshly hatched baby brine shrimp or thawed mysis shrimp and we do not know how they derive their nutrition. However, research is ongoing and reports from these studies should be available in the near future.
We do know that the jellyfish are capable of stinging because there are records of humans being stung by them. The effects of the sting are known to be mild, usually resulting in an itchy rash and a burning sensation. A more severe effect can occur in a sensitive individual or if one has an allergic reaction to the toxins present in the venom.
Sand jellyfish is enjoyed as food in a number of eastern and south eastern Asian countries like Japan and China. Nutritionally, sand jellyfish are known to contain a fat-free protein and vitamins A and B, and also have been reputed to lower blood pressure. In fact, the demand for sand jellyfish as food is so high that large scale sand jellyfish production operations have begun in earnest. China seems to be eager to capitalize on the economic importance of this export commodity and is doing continual biological research environmental impact of aquaculture activities and culture techniques to enhance the production of sand jellyfish without risking the fragile balance of the marine ecosystem.

Flatbottom Seastar - Asterias amurensis

Order: Forcipulatida
Family: Asteriidae
Genus: Asterias

Taxonomic name: Asterias amurensis
Common names: Flatbottom seastar, Japanese Seastar, Japanese starfish, Nordpazifischer Seestern (German), North Pacific seastar, northern Pacific seastar, purple-orange seastar
Organism type: sea star

Originally found in far north Pacific waters and areas surrounding Japan, Russia, North China, and Korea, the northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis) has successfully invaded the southern coasts of Australia and has the potential to move as far north as Sydney. The seastar will eat a wide range of prey and has the potential for ecological and economic harm in its introduced range. Because the seastar is well established and abundantly widespread, eradication is almost impossible. However, prevention and control measures are being implemented to stop the species from establishing in new waters.

Description
Asterias amurensis (northern Pacific seastar) can grow upto 50 cm in diameter. It is yellow with red and purple pigmentation on its five arms, and a small central disk. Its distinctive characteristic is its upturned tips which are its identification key when compared to similar starfish. The undersides are completely yellow and arms are unevenly covered with small, jagged-edged spines. These spines line the groove in which the tube feet lie, and join up at the mouth in a fan-like shape.

Similar Species
Pisaster brevispinus, Pisaster giganteus, Pisaster ochraceus

Occurs in:
estuarine habitats, marine habitats

Habitat description
While Asterias amurensis (northern Pacific seastar) prefers waters temperatures of 7-10°C, it has adapted to warmer Australian waters of 22°C. It is typically found in shallow waters of protected coasts and is not found on reefs or in areas with high wave action. The starfish is capable of tolerating many temperatures and wide ranges of salinities. It is often found in estuaries and on mud, sand or rocky sheltered areas of intertidal zones. The maximum temperature for Asterias amurensis is 25°C and the minimum is 0°C. The salinity range for this species is between 18.7 and 41ppt, while the maximum depth at which individuals have been found is 220m.

Oriental River Prawn - Macrobrachium nipponensis

In the freshwater shrimp, the most common type, lakes and rivers around the habitat. Eggs that are spawning in the summer is being protected by someone between the legs of the female swimmer in the abdomen. When newly hatched, called ZOEYA, and shrimp are quite different in shape, until it takes the form of shrimp a month. Growing and eating the remains of plankton sinking to the bottom, is the length to about 10cm.Can stay 1 day in the shadows, there is a nocturnal habit. Life is 1-2 years.

Weight: 4 to 9 gram

Distribution: Japan, China, SE Asia

Around in the fresh water rivers and lakes, and is often seen in low-salinity waters of estuaries or fresh water. Caohu in shallow water.