Stunning New Footage Shows Mysterious Giant Deep-Sea ‘Phantom’ Jelly As Never Seen Before

Stunning New Footage Shows Mysterious Giant Deep-Sea ‘Phantom’ Jelly As Never Seen Before

The ghostly giant is an extremely rare sight and now we have excellent footage to help us learn about it.

Out of the darkness of the ocean’s midnight zone, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) spots a billowing crimson curtain. When the submersible moves in for a closer look, its lights reveal the outline of a giant jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea).

Known in English as the “giant phantom jelly,” every sighting of this mysterious animal is a celebration for ocean researchers. It was first collected in 1899, but since then scientists have only encountered this animal about 100 times, even though we’re talking about a large animal that appears to have a worldwide distribution. So why the few sightings? Well, accessing these animals’ deep-water habitat has posed a great challenge.