MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) | The giant phantom jelly, Stygiomedusa gigantea, has curtain arms for days @MBARIvideo | Uploaded May 2023 | Updated October 2024, 12 hours ago.
Out of the darkness of the ocean’s midnight zone, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts spots a billowing crimson curtain. Moving in for a closer look, the submersible’s lights reveal the giant phantom jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea). The bell of this deep-sea denizen is more than one meter (3.3 feet) across and trails four ribbon-like oral (or mouth) arms that can grow to more than 10 meters (33 feet) in length. MBARI’s ROVs have logged thousands of dives, yet we have only seen this spectacular species nine times.
The first specimen of the giant phantom jelly was collected in 1899, but it was not until 60 years later that scientists recognized this as a new species. Even now, scientists still know very little about this animal.
Learn more about this ghostly giant: mbari.org/animal/giant-phantom-jelly
Explore MBARI’s Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep
Out of the darkness of the ocean’s midnight zone, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts spots a billowing crimson curtain. Moving in for a closer look, the submersible’s lights reveal the giant phantom jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea). The bell of this deep-sea denizen is more than one meter (3.3 feet) across and trails four ribbon-like oral (or mouth) arms that can grow to more than 10 meters (33 feet) in length. MBARI’s ROVs have logged thousands of dives, yet we have only seen this spectacular species nine times.
The first specimen of the giant phantom jelly was collected in 1899, but it was not until 60 years later that scientists recognized this as a new species. Even now, scientists still know very little about this animal.
Learn more about this ghostly giant: mbari.org/animal/giant-phantom-jelly
Explore MBARI’s Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep