Buzz
To imagine life on other worlds, one need look no further than the mysterious creatures of the deep ocean. The sea floor is home to many strange beings, most of which are still a mystery to scientists. As reported by Gizmodo, one such enigmatic and often terrifying inhabitant of the ocean's 'midnight zone' was recently filmed. The footage offers a rare glimpse of the giant phantom jellyfish, which you can view in the video below.
In a recent capture by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) off the coast of California bay, a strange creature resembling a gelatinous flying saucer with long black tentacles was filmed. This creature, a phantom jellyfish, is a rare species of jellyfish that has only been spotted about 100 times since its discovery in 1899. Known for its impressive size, it boasts a bell that spans 3 feet across and tentacles that can extend up to 10 feet. The largest specimens can have tentacles as long as 33 feet. Its dark coloring helps it blend seamlessly into its light-deprived habitat.
Despite thousands of dives, MBARI has only recorded the phantom jellyfish nine times. Although this species is considered rare, it has a broad distribution, living in all oceans outside the Arctic. Its preferred habitat lies in the midnight zone, a part of the ocean between 3300 and 13,000 feet deep, where no sunlight penetrates. The jellyfish in question was filmed at a relatively shallow depth of 3200 feet beneath Monterey Bay.
With the help of a remotely operated vehicle, researchers from MBARI have been able to explore and capture footage of the deep ocean, revealing parts of marine life rarely seen by humans. As they dive deeper, the scenes grow increasingly eerie. After watching the phantom jellyfish in motion, be sure to check out this unsettling video of a green-eyed squid, captured by MBARI in 2016.
