Scientists have found phantom jellyfish the size of a school bus off the coast of Argentina in a rare deep-sea discovery during the expedition.
Researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute captured this spectacular moment using a remote-controlled vehicle known as ROV SuBastian. In the captured video, a rare giant phantom jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea) can be seen at a depth of about 250 meters.
The jellyfish is known to be bred ‘as tall as a school bus’. Their four arms can also reach lengths of more than 9 meters in length, while the bell can reach a diameter of up to 1 meter.
Commenting on the team’s surprise, the expedition’s lead scientist, María Emilia Bravo, said: “We did not expect to find this level of biodiversity in the Argentine deep sea and we are so excited to see that it is teeming with life.”
In addition, the team of researchers who scoured the Argentine coast, from Buenos Aires in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south, also found other notable discoveries.
The findings include the world’s largest known Bathelia candida coral reef in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The reef provides an important habitat for crustaceans, fish and octopuses.
They also found the country’s first deep-water whale trap and 28 new animal species.
“It was incredible to see all the biodiversity, ecosystem functions and connectivity unfolding together. We opened a window on our country’s biodiversity and discovered that there were so many more windows to remain open,” said Emilia.
Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director Jyotika Virmani said: “With every expedition to the deep sea, we discover that the ocean is teeming with life – as much as we see on land, and perhaps even more because the ocean comprises 98% of the living space on this planet.”
