Giant "Phantom" Jellyfish, One of Ocean's Biggest and Rarest Predators, Spotted by Researchers
Peter Pizagalli Published 12/09/2021
A gigantic, extremely rare "Phantom Jellyfish" was sighted by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute earlier this month, shedding light on an elusive and mysterious creature that looks a little too much like something out of Harry Potter.
The creature, known as Stygiomedusa Gigantaea is one of the largest predators in the ocean. With only 110 sightings in exactly 110 years, almost nothing is known about these enormous beings -- including how they hunt. Their long, drapery-style tendrils have no stingers and how the Phantom Jellyfish kills their prey is still unknown.
Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered the goliath while conducting a deep-sea dive at 3200 feet below the surface, stumbling upon one of the nature's rarest predators that typically resides at a stunning depth of nearly 22,000 feet. The "bell" of the jellyfish shown here is three feet wide, with the tendrils estimated to be over 30 feet in length.
The creature, known as Stygiomedusa Gigantaea is one of the largest predators in the ocean. With only 110 sightings in exactly 110 years, almost nothing is known about these enormous beings -- including how they hunt. Their long, drapery-style tendrils have no stingers and how the Phantom Jellyfish kills their prey is still unknown.
Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered the goliath while conducting a deep-sea dive at 3200 feet below the surface, stumbling upon one of the nature's rarest predators that typically resides at a stunning depth of nearly 22,000 feet. The "bell" of the jellyfish shown here is three feet wide, with the tendrils estimated to be over 30 feet in length.
Here's a longer clip about the Giant Phantom Jellyfish with a bit more "production" and narration by David Attenborough -- you know, the guy whose disembodied voice permeates every childhood memory you have of cool animal documentary stuff.
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