Giant ghostly jellyfish caught on film

A rare phantom jellyfish has been spotted by scientists exploring the deep sea near Argentina.

Stygiomedusa gigantea, more commonly known as the giant phantom jellyfish, was filmed 250 metres below the surface in the South Atlantic Ocean.

“We were not expecting to see this level of biodiversity in the Argentine deep sea and are so excited to see it teeming with life,” says the expedition’s chief scientist, María Bravo.

“Seeing all the biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and connectivity unfolding together was incredible. We opened a window into our country’s biodiversity only to find there are so many more windows left to be opened.”

The jellyfish’s nickname comes from its ethereal appearance, as it is pale pink and floats slowly through the water like a ghost.

Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute documented the creature, which can grow up to one metre in diameter, with ribbon-like arms reaching up to 10m long – roughly the length of a school bus.

Unlike many other jellyfish, this species does not have stinging tentacles. Instead, it uses its four massive arms to catch prey such as plankton and small fish.

The jellyfish was filmed during a journey exploring the deep sea all along the Argentine coast.

During the expedition, scientists also discovered 28 potential new species, including worms, corals, sea urchins, sea snails, and sea anemones – animals that look like plants but are actually related to jellyfish.

The team’s research area spanned the length of Argentina’s coast, from Buenos Aires in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south. Their main goal was to find cold seeps – deep-sea environments where methane and other chemicals are released from the seafloor. – BBC

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.