Marine researchers at work in the South Pacific have shared new footage of a distinctive, flying-saucer-like golden jellyfish at ocean depths of around 3,000 meters, or nearly 2 miles.
Scientists aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Okeanos Explorer were charting the newly-named “Utu” Seamount in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa when they came across this preternatural specimen.
Part of its 2017 American Samoa Expedition, a NOAA remotely-operated vehicle captured the arresting images. Its Office of Ocean Exploration and Research YouTube account explains:
The jelly (hydromedusa) is in a family of hydromedusae called Rhopalonematidae, which is known for the canals running vertically on the inside of the bell, gonads attached to these canals, and sometimes having two sets of tentacles.
Alien spaceship? Nope — jelly spotted on seamount at ~3000m depth. Join #Okeanos LIVE as we explore inner space: https://t.co/KMPtmf70oo pic.twitter.com/Bpy5rwfidH
— NOAA Ocean Explorer (@oceanexplorer) February 21, 2017
