The colossal phantom jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea), one of the planet’s largest jellyfish species, has been captured on camera while prowling the depths of Monterey Bay, California, as detailed by Ben Turner in a report for Live Science. The mesmerizing footage, filmed by marine researchers operating a remote submersible, depicts the vibrant scarlet-hued jellyfish meandering with its bell-shaped body and four lengthy, streaming appendages resembling the tails of a kite.
The giant phantom jellyfish fully embodies its evocative name: its bell can extend up to three feet in width, while its tentacles reach extraordinary lengths of 33 feet. Despite their impressive size, these creatures are exceedingly challenging to encounter. Since their initial discovery by scientists in 1899, the incredibly elusive nature of these organisms has led to only around 100 documented sightings in total, as reported by Live Science.
One reason these deep sea creatures are hard to find is that they lurk 21,900 feet below the surface. This depth of the ocean is called the midnight, or bathypelagic zone, where sunlight does not penetrate, reports Brian Kahn for Gizmodo.
