This mesmerizing video of a deep sea jellyfish may make you do a double take, but I assure you it is the real deal and not an impressive feat of CGI. Captured by the near the Mariana Trench, the previously unseen species lives under the pressure of 2.3 miles of sea water and contains mesmerizing glowing bulbs in its body.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration led an expedition near the Enigma Seamount, which led to the ROV Deep Discoverer stumbling upon this hypnotic vision of a glowing jellyfish thought to be an undiscovered species. According to Jennifer Frazer of Scientific American, “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.”
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The jellyfish has notable bulbs that glow yellow, which scientists suspect to be its gonads, connected by bright red strands. The posture of the creature in the video suggests it waits for prey to crash into its outstretched tentacles. A live-feed of the is available for observers who want to catch another glimpse of the jelly – or other creatures floating deep beneath the ocean’s surface. The expedition of the Mariana Trench should continue for another nine weeks, so it is safe to assume there may be more discoveries along the way.
+ NOAA
Via Scientific American
Images via YouTube
