Newly Spotted Jellyfish Being Described as the “Size of a Bus”

The post Newly Spotted Jellyfish Being Described as the “Size of a Bus” appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

• Achieving a length of 33 feet is a survival milestone for this giant phantom species.

• The Stygiomedusa genus contains only 1 member, complicating efforts to define its deep-sea evolution.

• Counter-intuitively, these giants capture prey without using any stinging tentacles for immobilization.

• The Schmidt Ocean Institute launched an expedition to determine why this species stays hidden for decades.

A recent exploration off Argentina’s coast found a rarely seen jellyfish the size of a school bus. The giant phantom jellyfish is rarely observed because it is a deep-sea species, which makes this sighting especially significant. This Instagram reel by @cbsnews shows a video from the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s expedition, and the jellyfish are a sight to behold. The jellyfish is so massive that it can’t fit entirely within the camera frame. Read here to learn more about the giant phantom jellyfish and why they are so hard to spot.

Giant Phantom Jellyfish Spotting

The giant phantom jellyfish in the video above was recorded in late December by researchers aboard a ship operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. The sighting was a moment of excitement and awe for the researchers. The phantom jellyfish is difficult to find in the wild, with most recordings being made on beached specimens. Because of this, finding a live one in the ocean was almost unbelievable. These jellyfish have been documented only about 100 times in the last century, highlighting how elusive they are. Very little is known about their life cycles, behaviors, and daily activities due to this elusiveness. However, thanks to the researchers on board, high-quality video was captured, which will help scientists study these jellyfish further in the future.

About the Giant Phantom Jellyfish

The giant phantom jellyfish is a distinct deep-sea species that is the only member of its genus Stygiomedusa. These jellyfish are massive, growing as large as a bus or even bigger. The bell alone is about three feet wide, while the arms can extend up to 33 feet in length. They have four ribbon-like arms that trail through the sea. Instead of stinging tentacles like most other jellyfish, these ribbons entangle prey and bring it toward the jellyfish’s mouth. Part of the reason they get the nickname “phantom” is thanks to their dark red coloring. The dark color allows them to blend into the deep ocean. Giant phantom jellyfish live anywhere from 2,300 feet to 22,000 feet deep in places where light doesn’t reach. They inhabit all major oceans, provided the water is deep enough.

The post Newly Spotted Jellyfish Being Described as the “Size of a Bus” appeared first on A-Z Animals.