Deep-sea oddities. An invertebrate known as siphonophore swims 552 metres deep in the tropical South Atlantic Ocean — and is one of 31 species discovered during a deep-sea expedition off the coast of Brazil. The researchers explored the ocean’s midwater, an area that stretches from just below the sunlit surface to the sea floor, and forms the largest habitable ecosystem on Earth. With laser-imaging tools, the team captured 3D, millimetre-scale footage of animals in their natural habitat. The new species include a gossamer worm, nine jellyfish, seven siphonophores and seven comb jellies. Researchers say that the siphonophore in this image might belong to an undescribed genus.
Credit: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
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