Researchers spot bus-sized jellyfish
“With every expedition to the deep sea, we find the Ocean is full of life—as much as we see on land, and perhaps more because the Ocean contains 98 per cent of the living space on this planet."
On camera, it may look like your standard sea creature, but we can assure you: This isn’t your average jellyfish.
A team of researchers documenting the deep sea off the coast of Argentina captured rare footage of the giant phantom jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea) at a depth of 250 metres.
According to the Schmidt Ocean Institute, this species can grow up to 1 metre in diametre and up to ten metres long. That's roughly the size of a standard yellow school bus, which typically measures 10 to 13 metres.
Despite its size, this type of jellyfish is rarely seen: Over the past 110 years it has only been observed 118 times.
This wasn’t the only discovery during the expedition: Scientists aboard the research vessel believe they found 28 new species, including worms, corals, sea urchins, sea snails, and sea anemones.
They also documented Argentina’s first deep-water whale fall at an impressive 3890 metres in depth.
“With every expedition to the deep sea, we find the Ocean is full of life—as much as we see on land, and perhaps more because the Ocean contains 98 per cent of the living space on this planet,” Schmidt Ocean Institute’s executive director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani, says in a statement.
“We have been privileged to work with outstanding scientists across three expeditions in Argentinian waters, and look forward to seeing their research continue to unfold, unlocking new understanding and inspiration.”
Header image compiled in Canva Pro. Article written with files from April Walker.