H. zschokkei is notable for its absence of mitochondria, mitochondrial DNA, aerobic respiration and its reliance on an as of yet undiscovered energy metabolism.
[...] it is the only known multicellular animal that does not rely on the aerobic respiration of oxygen.
[...] animals such as H. zschokkei were originally cancerous growths in free-swimming jellyfish that escaped their parent organism and thereafter became a separate species parasitizing other animals.
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[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 14.7 ms ] thread[...] it is the only known multicellular animal that does not rely on the aerobic respiration of oxygen.
[...] animals such as H. zschokkei were originally cancerous growths in free-swimming jellyfish that escaped their parent organism and thereafter became a separate species parasitizing other animals.
Absolutely wild, thought-provoking biology!