A stunning video has been recorded by a team of researchers during a scientific expedition off the coast of Argentina, documenting one of the rarest creatures of the ocean depths, the giant ghost jellyfish.
The footage, released by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, shows the Stygiomedusa gigantea jellyfish at a depth of about 253 meters. This rare species can reach incredible sizes, with its bell-shaped body measuring up to one meter in diameter and tentacles that can reach a length of up to 10 meters, making it the size of a school bus.
According to scientists aboard the research vessel Falkor, the expedition resulted in the discovery of 28 new species, including sea worms, sea urchins, sea snails and sea anemones. They also documented the largest known coral reefs to date, of the species Bathelia candida, in the Atlantic Ocean.
The scientific expedition took place along the Argentine coastline, from the Salado–Colorado escarpment to the open sea areas near Tierra del Fuego, exploring depths that extend to tens of thousands of square kilometers. The discovery of the giant ghost jellyfish is considered particularly important, as this species is very rarely seen in its natural habitat. Its impressive appearance provides new insights into the biodiversity of the ocean depths and reinforces the importance of scientific expeditions for the study of the underwater world.
