One of the ocean’s most astonishing and mysterious inhabitants is the giant ghost jellyfish. Known for its enormous size, this creature can reach lengths of up to 10 meters and has captivated scientists since it was first described more than a century ago. Recent expeditions by a marine research team uncovered a vivid example, capturing remarkable footage and photographs of Stygiomedusa gigantea.
The sightings occurred during a brief diving excursion in the coastal waters near the Antarctic Peninsula in early 2022. Since the species was first described in 1910, only about 126 observations have been recorded, underscoring how rarely people encounter these giants in the wild.
Maps of the collected observations show a couple of sightings near the Cantabrian coast, between the Basque Country and Cantabria. Yet the bulk of confirmed encounters has come from the Antarctic region and waters off North America, highlighting a distribution that seems strongly tied to deep, cold seas.
This jellyfish can grow up to 10 meters long thanks to its expansive tentacles. Its ghostly presence is often described as a tangle of translucent filaments drifting like wisps in the water.
Jellyfish feature a bell, or umbrella, that can expand to about one meter in diameter. They lack stinging tentacles on their long, slender arms, which allows them to seize prey directly. The body coloration is a deep reddish-brown to plum, a hue typical of creatures adapted to the deep ocean.
Researchers published details of the Antarctic observation in Polar Research, describing how underwater researchers collaborated with the expedition to observe elusive deep-sea life. The study drew on observations made aboard a cruise vessel equipped for exploration and aimed at documenting organisms that thrive beyond ordinary sight.
According to notes from the expedition, the jellyfish outgrew the diver at times, especially when seen at depths of several hundred meters near Rongé Island in Antarctica.
Jellyfish observations around the world DM Moore
Experts involved in the expedition express surprise at how little is known about giants like Stygiomedusa gigantea. Yet the recent ability to observe these animals at deeper depths opens up exciting opportunities for ongoing study and discovery in remote ocean regions.
Another captioned image shows the giant ghost jellyfish head-on, a striking reminder of the creature’s size and presence in the open sea. The beauty and mystery of these animals invite continued attention and careful documentation as ocean exploration proceeds.
The giant ghost jellyfish is thought to inhabit a wide range of ocean depths, potentially down to several hundred meters. They can be found in varied habitats around the world, feeding on plankton and small fish that drift into their reach.
Reference work: polarresearch.net index polar article detailing the observation
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Environmental authorities and marine scientists continue to study this species, aiming to understand its role in ocean ecosystems and its responses to changing sea conditions.