Mesmerizing Jellyfish Discovered in Deep Sea Looks Unreal

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Looking like something straight out of an animator’s workshop, this new species discovered by the Okeanos Explorer near the Mariana Trench lives miles underwater and emits light from its bulbous body.

jellyfish deep

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was exploring the Enigma Seamount when the ROV Deep Discoverer came across this yet-undiscovered jellyfish.

Jennifer Frazer of Scientific American explains that “scientists believe this animal belongs to the genus Crossota, a group of jellies that does not have a sessile polyp stage; all phases of their lives are ocean drifters.”

jellyfish discovery

Extended tentacles are, it is assumed, used to capture unwary prey attracted to the light of the species’ body. The mission that found this fresh creatures is no yet over, either, so more uncanny discoveries may be yet to come. Meanwhile, this dazzling creature is making waves all over the internet, and reminding people there are many things yet to find in the underwater frontier.

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See more in Earth & Nature or under Science. July, 2016.