Rare giant jellyfish revealed during Antarctic mission
Scientists have discovered a rare deep-sea predator beneath the ice of Antarctica. Stygiomedusa gigantea, known as the giant jellyfish, surprised researchers with its size.
Key information
- The discovery occurred under the ice of Antarctica.
- Stygiomedusa gigantea is a rare deep-sea predator.
- The SuBastian submersible mission revealed abundant marine life.
While exploring a newly exposed section of the Antarctic seafloor, scientists encountered an extremely rare deep-sea predator. Stygiomedusa gigantea, also known as the giant phantom jelly, astonished researchers with its impressive size and mysterious appearance.
Giant phantom jelly
Stygiomedusa gigantea is a scyphozoan with a bell diameter exceeding 1 metre, and its arms can reach lengths of up to 10 metres. Although often referred to as a jellyfish, this is only one of the developmental stages of this species. Its natural habitat is the deep ocean, where it can take on a red hue due to light exposure.
The discovery was made during the mission of the SuBastian submersible, which dived to a depth of 1,300 metres. During this expedition, not only was the Stygiomedusa gigantea recorded, but also numerous anemones, sponges, cephalopods, and crustaceans. The appearance of the mysterious scyphozoan drew the most attention from researchers.
Rarely seen deep-sea inhabitant
Until now, Stygiomedusa gigantea had only been observed in Antarctic waters at depths of up to 280 metres. However, its actual range may be much broader. Despite its size, it is not the largest known scyphozoan.
The data collected during the expedition may significantly expand the knowledge of the mysterious life of deep-sea cnidarians. Their existence remains largely unknown, and discoveries like this contribute to a better understanding of these extraordinary creatures.
