Heartless Wonders: 10 Animals Thriving Without a Traditional Heart

May 19th , 2024 Team LTG Team LTG

[{"selector":"#anim-7313707a-1b4e-4c10-b39c-fcedcf71250c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.5860692226667936%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80847174-0c8d-47de-a722-bfbe09a31469","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab45d834-c1df-42c6-951f-ce2f536a226e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] We often associate hearts with life, but some animals defy the norm. Discover 10 creatures that function without this vital organ!

Jellyfish

[{"selector":"#anim-fbeffdcd-77f2-47d7-acaa-e3a49fb87247 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -6.542055507667184%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66745f60-d10b-4df3-91e7-1922851a2511","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e24a7977-fbc3-43dd-a3ec-9f8110eab651","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88adea4a-50ce-44d3-9947-4b3a3b5a74dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20c52416-4d32-41eb-92c8-caea6b661eb1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] These mesmerizing creatures have no blood or circulatory system, so no need for a pump!

Flatworms

[{"selector":"#anim-0dcedeb8-a4ce-493e-9c43-6b1375c67831 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(24.92785189127344%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-264e8f7f-8968-4b33-825b-13f6eade1e9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-527de484-a84e-423e-9a2d-956adc96f815","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7c91954-6bfb-4ae0-b03e-2e1e49da8e0e","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af43379e-2084-4dbf-9a5d-d786694259f6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Simple, flat bodies allow them to distribute nutrients through diffusion, eliminating the need for a heart.

Coral

[{"selector":"#anim-10afe5b7-c353-4243-ac25-87851437f20b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.71874958567203%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-950b38bf-338e-4c29-ac4d-61959c631073","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3162906-e660-4043-8023-c4649bf81d13","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b71c7c92-dfd2-42b3-bfe2-ccc339865412","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c685d1bc-9397-4485-beac-2f4834dc1c93","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Though they look like plants, they're animals without hearts or circulatory systems.

Starfish

[{"selector":"#anim-551f06f5-46e9-4703-9b33-fcc4f2819a4f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.245347378109773%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb55fc56-6293-409e-9c92-0c4698a4adee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-455375ea-b8b3-4e1e-b711-8e00fd886a76","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ceef600-58ad-4073-9e8a-e9478777d70f","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73c44a76-a450-4c67-ae8b-fa2a23a971bd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Their unique water vascular system circulates water, not blood, powering movement and nutrient distribution.

Sea Cucumbers

[{"selector":"#anim-fe6515e5-8feb-4117-83ed-a72efaadf950","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb70ee6f-2736-47e2-9ace-6f5eac7305bc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-865dfb8e-2c0e-45f5-b545-9a657fe7b50c","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4cb282f-2f59-42d1-9a01-2c38eb170cbe","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a6b2f9e-51cf-4d7f-9d0a-643a35a3d6f7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.711246652138902%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] These squishy creatures use their body walls for gas exchange, making a heart unnecessary

Sea Lilies

[{"selector":"#anim-1249d265-b3fa-47da-af3e-a08e63e7a2f3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4072310038398648%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c5e1f73-9d6d-47a8-a15f-a6791f6cdc4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ede5661e-88e4-4e99-879a-614e3a4a0f39","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e21efb50-2f4b-4586-8e6b-9d822cab3ca7","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd856759-2929-4e2c-80ab-8c32e68e6083","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Closely related to starfish, they use similar mechanisms for survival without a heart.

Sea Anemones

[{"selector":"#anim-2b99239d-4ca2-48f8-b2d8-4f1faf6f41b8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 5.5555558252427195%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a18e7e47-cfb2-447a-a159-f28860c0ca2d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55242128-cf8b-4319-83ff-2e907f6a3d57","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6484e985-985f-4c33-96c7-a60c1273e0d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-004b379d-a17c-4bda-8253-0df9a844719c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Simple body plans and diffusion allow them to absorb nutrients directly from the water.

Sponges

[{"selector":"#anim-9a0d6fa0-5aa7-4342-a3cb-91e8aef5e1d3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(10.90994932223054%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c001caa7-e91b-4fdd-ae3c-0200571d1f70","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61caa4c6-60e4-49c7-9a14-be44db649052","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10a721e3-03b7-4a4e-b3fc-de0a2a858c25","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-750bc0af-cf77-4c0b-923c-277381841078","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Basic multicellular animals that lack organs and rely on water flow for survival.

Hydra

[{"selector":"#anim-d6cac90f-c278-437b-8f1f-2387e8128c9a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-5.462184300297775%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07c943c3-2612-48d6-b375-18f4b40b1146","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a357765e-d732-4782-88b6-9556caa0f313","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-beba0d06-af5e-442d-9e33-c18bfea73f2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb818556-f559-4932-981e-ca04a41a769e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tiny freshwater creatures with a simple body structure and no need for a heart.

Portuguese Man O' War

[{"selector":"#anim-ae47402e-7a62-44e5-89cf-9da39926f8fc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.588909796753438%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1da324e-7ae7-4a20-8bd2-130a0c9c37f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1a7a5b3-307a-449d-b686-abc150ef2395","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd610a3b-f9c6-4f8f-93df-38d901ca72e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbb1cbc6-9a06-4957-9726-b0e2b1aab713","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A colony of specialized organisms working together, not a single animal, but no central heart needed.