One of the ocean's most elusive creatures, the giant phantom jellyfish (*Stygiomedusa gigantea*), has been spotted in Antarctic waters. Researchers aboard the Viking exploration vessel captured remarkable video and photographs of this rarely seen species during submersible dives near the Antarctic Peninsula in early 2022.
Since its discovery in 1910, there have only been 126 recorded sightings of the giant phantom jellyfish, which can reach up to 10 meters in length. The recent observations occurred several hundred meters deep near Rongé Island, Antarctica. Scientists noted that the jellyfish was larger than their submersible.
Unlike other jellyfish, the giant phantom jellyfish doesn't use stinging tentacles to catch prey. Instead, it uses its arms to envelop plankton and small fish, bringing them to its mouth. This species is also viviparous, giving birth to live young that develop inside the mother before swimming away.
The jellyfish has a bell-shaped umbrella that can measure up to one meter wide and is a deep reddish-brown or plum color, typical of deep-sea animals. It is believed to inhabit oceans worldwide at depths of up to 6,665 meters.