Optimal hash arrangement of tentacles in jellyfish

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 7:6:27347. doi: 10.1038/srep27347.

Abstract

At first glance, the trailing tentacles of a jellyfish appear to be randomly arranged. However, close examination of medusae has revealed that the arrangement and developmental order of the tentacles obey a mathematical rule. Here, we show that medusa jellyfish adopt the best strategy to achieve the most uniform distribution of a variable number of tentacles. The observed order of tentacles is a real-world example of an optimal hashing algorithm known as Fibonacci hashing in computer science.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Structures / anatomy & histology
  • Animals
  • Hydrozoa / anatomy & histology*
  • Models, Theoretical