there is still so much of our own planet we still know so little about,
or see so infrequently, like this deep water giant phantom jellyfish, (Stygiomedusa gigantea), this one was found in the midnight zone, an area of the ocean about 3,200 feet
below the surface, "The
giant phantom jelly was first collected in 1899, since then, scientists have
only encountered this animal about 100 times," MBARI said
in a statement,
but for this team it is just one of just nine encounters with the species since it was discovered, the
crimson animal has a bulbous body and has four billowing, blanket-like arms
(these function as mouths), but here is the thing, we do not even know what it feeds on, it is suspected that the jellyfish eats plankton and small fishes, although they haven’t
been able to study it enough to know for sure,
one thing I do know for sure, is that you would not like to meet one whilst swimming, it's arms, which function as mouths are 33 feet long! imagine getting those all wrapped around you, and who knows it might even try to devour you!
back to reality, a remote-operated vehicle spotted the elusive giant, just one more creature that lives in the depths we still know so little about.
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