Scientists discover “beautiful and unique” gelatinous marine animal

Scientists like to get their hands on things whenever possible, especially when describing new animal species. A team of researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, however, took a hands-free approach when it came to a surprising underwater discovery: a new species of scallop jelly.

“It is unique because we have been able to describe a new species based entirely on high definition video,” NOAA Fisheries scientist Allen Collins said in a statement on November 20.

The NOAA team named the translucent animal Duobrachium sparksae. It is a ctenophore, popularly known as scallop jelly. Not to be confused with jellyfish, scallop jellies are ethereal, jelly-like, carnivorous inhabitants of the deep.

The new species inhabits the coast of Puerto Rico and was first spotted in video footage captured by NOAA’s Deep Discoverer remote-controlled vehicle in 2015. NOAA has released a stunning video showing scallop jelly floating on the bottom. of the sea.

Collins described it as a party balloon. The researchers used a laser system to measure the animal, which reached a height of about 2.3 inches (6 centimeters), not counting the long dangling tentacles.

Scientists from NOAA Fisheries quickly realized the creature was something unusual, but it takes time to do leg work to declare a new species. The team published an article describing Duobrachium sparksae this month in the journal Plankton and Benthos Research.

“It was a beautiful and unique organism,” said lead author Mike Ford, a NOAA fisheries scientist. The tentacles appeared to touch the bottom of the sea, but it is not clear if it was somehow anchored to the bottom.

Researchers have identified three individuals, but much remains unknown about the animals. Scientists are still hoping to collect an actual sample of the comb jelly to fill in some of the blanks. Until then, we can enjoy the fascinating video of an underwater wonder.