Rare 'Ghost' Jellyfish Filmed Off Argentina as Expedition Maps Largest Known Bathelia candida Reef

Overview

• The Stygiomedusa gigantea was recorded at roughly 250 meters during an ROV dive on Argentina’s continental margin.
• The Schmidt Ocean Institute–led team also documented a glass squid at about 1,725 meters in a submarine canyon.
• Mapping revealed extensive cold-water coral habitat, including the largest documented Bathelia candida reef.
• The survey spanned from off Buenos Aires to near Tierra del Fuego using ROV SuBastian deployed from the research vessel Falkor.
• Scientists highlighted the vulnerability of slow-growing cold-water corals and noted seafloor cold seeps and marine debris, including fishing gear and a VHS tape.