Scientists exploring the deep Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Argentina have captured extraordinary footage of a rare giant jellyfish that can grow as long as a school bus. The creature, known as the giant phantom jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea), was filmed about 250–820 feet below the ocean’s surface during an expedition by the Schmidt Ocean Institute aboard the research vessel R/V Falkor.
The giant phantom jelly is one of the ocean’s most elusive animals, with fewer than 120 sightings reported in more than a century. Its bell can reach roughly one meter (3.3 feet) in diameter, while its four long oral arms may extend up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) – lengths that collectively make it as long as a typical school bus. While it lacks traditional stinging tentacles, researchers say the jellyfish uses its arms to catch tiny prey like plankton and small fish.
The deep-sea footage captured by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) reveals the ghostly beauty of this seldom-seen species drifting through the dark waters, surrounded by juvenile fish. The jellyfish’s appearance highlights the vast biodiversity still largely unexplored in deep ocean environments.
Marine scientists involved in the expedition described the sighting as rare and awe-inspiring, underscoring how much remains unknown about life in Earth’s darkest depths.
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