ROV pilots from the Schmidt Ocean Institute filmed a rare phantom jellyfish, Stygiomedusa gigantea, about 830 feet beneath the surface off Argentina. The species can have a bell roughly 3.3 feet wide and four arms up to 33 feet long but lacks stinging tentacles. Fewer than 120 sightings have been recorded in 110 years, likely because these jellies inhabit the deep 'midnight zone' that extends to about 13,000 feet. The footage highlights how deep-sea expeditions continue to reveal surprising biodiversity.
School-Bus–Sized Phantom Jellyfish Filmed Off Argentina: Rare Deep-Sea Sighting
Researchers from California’s Schmidt Ocean Institute captured rare deep-sea footage of a massive phantom jellyfish off the coast of Argentina, during operations that ranged from Buenos Aires to Tierra del Fuego. ROV pilots recorded the gelatinous animal — identified as Stygiomedusa gigantea — swimming roughly 830 feet (about 250 meters) beneath the surface.
Although the team did not measure the individual specimen seen in the video, the Institute notes that the species' bell can reach about 3.3 feet (1 meter) in diameter, while its four ribbon-like arms can extend up to 33 feet (around 10 meters) — nearly the height of a telephone pole. Despite their impressive size, phantom jellies are not considered dangerous to people.
'They do not have any stinging tentacles,' the Institute said in a press release, 'but use their arms to catch prey, including plankton and small fish.'
Phantom jellies are seldom observed: researchers report fewer than 120 confirmed sightings in the past 110 years, averaging roughly one sighting per year. Scientists believe these animals inhabit the ocean's 'midnight zone,' a deep layer that extends to roughly 13,000 feet (about 4,000 meters) and is characterized by perpetual darkness, near-freezing temperatures, and extreme pressure — conditions that make direct observation challenging.
'With every expedition to the deep sea, we find the ocean is full of life — as much as we see on land, and perhaps more because the ocean contains 98 percent of the living space on this planet,' said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. 'We have been privileged to work with outstanding scientists across three expeditions in Argentinian waters, and look forward to seeing their research continue to unfold, unlocking new understanding and inspiration.'
Watch the ROV footage here: https://youtube.com/shorts/Or2raoKqd84?si=y-xizZjuUJvny1AS
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