At the beginning of the year, a huge iceberg with an area of over 500 square kilometers separated from the “George VI” ice shelf – a floating glacier attached to the Ice cover of the Antarctic Peninsula, revealing to scientists An unknown water environment.
According to Discover Wildlife, an eight -day trip near the Bellingshausen sea off the coast of Antarctica brought breakthrough discoveries.
Researchers used the R/V Falkor ship belonging to Schmidt Ocean Institute. His crew explored the sea bottom with the help of a remote -controlled vehicle that registered the unknown, “Floating ecosystems”.
– Considering the size of animals, the community observed by us They have existed there for decades, maybe even hundreds of years – they conveyed in an interview with the portal.
Antarctica. An unusual discovery at the bottom of the sea. A jellyfish with a “ghostly appearance”
Among the specimens hidden under the iceberg, in addition to ice fish, octopus and giant sea spiders, researchers also discovered Gigantic “Specter animal”.
I am talking about purple jellyfish (Stygiomedus Gigantea), whose dimensions surprised the scientists themselves. “The bell can have over a meter in diameter, and four ribbons 'oral arms' can reach the animal Length over 10 meters” – mentions the portal.
As emphasized, jellyfish is known not only for impressive body size, but also “ghostly appearance”.
“Unlike most jellyfish, there is no tentacles and uses his arms to grip the prey,” he explained.
Until now, the animal has been observed less than 150 times – For the first time in 1899, but only 60 years later it was recognized as a species.
Source: Discover Wildlife