Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have unveiled a new species of sea slug off California's Pacific coast, found in the deep-sea region known as the midnight zone.
First identified in 2000 at a depth of 8,576 feet (2,613 meters), this creature, dubbed the 'mystery mollusc', is remarkable for being the first documented sea slug to inhabit the deep water column, which ranges from 3,300 to 13,100 feet below the surface.
The mystery mollusc features a transparent, gelatinous body, a large hood, and a flat tail adorned with finger-like projections. Its foot resembles that of a snail, and it exhibits brilliant bioluminescence.
Since its initial observation in February 2000 using a remotely operated vehicle, researchers have encountered over 100 specimens, allowing for a detailed examination of its anatomy and genetics, ultimately confirming it as a new species.