Overview
- Scientists identified the deep-sea jellyfish as Stygiomedusa gigantea, a species documented only about 130 times globally since 1910.
- The animal was recorded at roughly 253 meters on Argentina’s continental slope near the Colorado–Rawson submarine canyon.
- Researchers estimated an overall length near 11 meters, noting a bell of about one meter and four oral arms that can reach up to 10 meters, with no stinging tentacles.
- The sighting occurred during the CONICET–University of Buenos Aires “Vida en los extremos” campaign conducted from December 14, 2025, to January 10, 2026, aboard the R/V Falkor (too).
- The expedition also documented the largest known Bathelia candida reef and a whale fall at 3,890 meters, with collected video and samples now under analysis and portions shared via public streaming.