Recently, scientists have spotted a giant phantom jellyfish deep in the Pacific. The ocean is a vast and largely unexplored place, primarily due to environmental challenges, which are largely driven by bone-crushing pressure. This is why any oceanic findings are a true marvel.
The Giant Phantom Jellyfish was found about 830 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean by a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) exploring the Colorado-Rawson submarine canyon wall of the coast off the wall of Virginia.
The Giant Phantom Jellyfish is just one of many oceanic discoveries, but it will pave the way for others. Oceanic discovery is currently a multi-organization process, since no single human or group could ever explore the ocean alone.
As aforementioned, technologies like the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) are being used to explore deep sea environments. However, there are many different ways to explore the ocean. One of which is the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), which is a device that uses sound waves to detect what way the current, which is important to understand biological, chemical, and physical properties of the ocean.
Another technology being used is Environmental DNA (eDNA), which is the genetic material shed by organisms in the water column. By collecting samples of mucus, feces, or tissue particles, scientists can process eDNA to make discoveries about marine life.
Typically, when we think about marine discovery, we think of animal discovery, and never about the ocean itself. People often forget that the environment of the ocean is also largely unknown and very significant in the composition of animals living in it and more.
The Giant Phantom Jelly is a very rare find, with only 118 sightings over 110 years. It is known to be widespread in the world’s oceans, except the Arctic Ocean. There are five zones of the ocean: the Sunlight, Twilight, Midnight, Abyssal, and Hadal. Typically, it’s found in the Midnight Zone, putting the Giant Phantom Jellyfish right in the middle of the depth.
Giant Phantom Jellyfish attack their prey in a rather unconventional way for a jellyfish. The Giant Phantom Jellyfish have four long oral arms, and they do not sting the same way the tentacles on other jellyfish do. Instead, they use appendages to grab their prey and guide it towards their mouth.
The rediscovery of the Giant Phantom Jellyfish shows how much of the ocean remains unexplored. With the help of modern technology and scientific collaboration, researchers continue to uncover rare species and better understand deep-sea environments. Discoveries like this remind us that the ocean still holds many secrets waiting to be uncovered.