Buzz
The ocean remains an enigma. While it covers about 71 percent of the Earth's surface, humanity has only explored a mere 5 percent. Deep within its waters, countless creatures look like they could be from another planet, such as this aquatic ‘flying spaghetti monster.’
During an expedition led by Schmidt Ocean Institute in late August, researchers encountered this peculiar, sea-urchin-like organism, officially named Bathyphysa conifera. You can watch it and other rare species documented on the journey in FOX Weather’s YouTube video below.
The camera captured a clear shot of the spaghetti monster, its pink-tipped appendages moving gracefully. As reported by Live Science, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) filmed the creature at a depth of about 2200 feet, traversing the Nazca Ridge near Chile in the southeastern Pacific. These organisms typically inhabit depths between 3300 and 9900 feet. Although it may appear small in the video, this carnivorous spaghetti monster can grow to several feet in length.
Bathyphysa conifera is classified as a colonial species, meaning it consists of multiple individuals connected by tissue, working in unison to form a larger organism. Every individual plays a crucial role in ensuring the colony's survival. Coral species, which are among the most famous examples of colonial organisms, can grow into massive structures larger than buses.
This expedition was a goldmine for oceanographers. Along with the discovery of the flying spaghetti monster, researchers captured footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid for the first time. Few of these specimens have been found, most dating back to the 1800s. The team also recorded a Casper octopus, marking the first sighting of the species in the Southern Pacific. In total, scientists observed 20 species that had never been seen on the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridges—though this is still modest compared to the 150 species the team identified in the region earlier this year.
