A team of researchers, in a recently conducted study, unveiled the mystery linked to a sea-creature colony of Nanomia Bijuga, or N. bijuga. Members of the jellyfish-like species colony propel the group through the water based on how old they are.

N. bijuga is part of a group of organisms, known as physonect siphonophores. Within a physonect colony, there are things called nectophores, which are genetically identical clones that are being arranged in a propulsive unit called a nectosome.

The nectosome acts as an engine of an N. bijuga colony and consists of individual clones called nectophores, said the researchers. As the colony flourishes, new nectophores are born.

When nectophores are small, they cannot produce much thrust, so they use their jets to turn the entire colony, found the researchers. This action of nectophores makes the colony to redirect itself very quickly.

Lead author John H. Costello, an adjunct scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, said in a statement that the young members of the colony have a long liver arm like the handle of a door.

"If you push on a door near its hinges -- its axis of rotation -- the door is hard to open. But if you push on the door handle, which is far from the axis of rotation, the door opens easily. A little force placed with a big lever arm has a big effect on turning", Costello said.

Furthermore, researchers told that as the nectophores age they naturally move back in the colony where their larger jets can be put to use purely as thrust.