Stygiomedusa

Stygiomedusa is a genus of giant deep sea jellyfish in the family Ulmaridae.[2] It is monotypic with a single species, Stygiomedusa gigantea. With only 110 sightings in 110 years, it is a jellyfish that is rarely seen, but believed to be widespread throughout the world, with the exception of the Arctic Ocean.[3][4][5] It is thought to be one of the largest invertebrate predators in the deep sea ecosystem.[6] It can be found as deep as 6,665 metres, but is more common in the midnight zone.[5]

Stygiomedusa
Illustration of Stygiomedusa gigantea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Semaeostomeae
Family: Ulmaridae
Genus: Stygiomedusa
Species:
S. gigantea
Binomial name
Stygiomedusa gigantea
(Browne, 1910)[1]
Synonyms
  • Diplulmaris gigantea
  • Stygiomedusa fabulosa
  • Stygiomedusa stauchi

The jellyfish has an umbrella-shaped bell that can be up to a metre wide. It also has four "paddle-like" arms up to 10 metres long, which, as they lack stinging tentacles, may be used instead to trap its prey of plankton and small fish.[5][6] Giant Stygiomedusa have been observed and filmed off the Pacific coast of the United States by scientists and by ROVs off the coast of Japan and in the Gulf of Mexico.[6][7][8]

Evidence has been reported of a symbiotic relationship existing between Stygiomedusa gigantea and Thalassobathia pelagica, a species of ophidiiform fish.[9]

References
  1. "Marine Species Identification Portal : Stygiomedusa gigantea". Species-identification.org. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  2. Browne, Edward T. (1907). "Coelentera". In Bell, Jeffrey (ed.). Natural History: Voyage of the S.S. Discovery under Capt. R.F. Scott. Zoology and Botany. 5. Biodiversity Heritage Library. p. 57. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.18281. OCLC 727233164. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  3. "Giant deep sea jellyfish filmed". 2010-04-23. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  4. Benfield, Mark C.; Graham, William M. (September 2010). "In situ observations of Stygiomedusa gigantea in the Gulf of Mexico with a review of its global distribution and habitat". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 90 (6): 1079–1093. doi:10.1017/S0025315410000536.
  5. "Giant phantom jelly". MBARI.
  6. Bourton, Jody (2010-04-23). "BBC - Earth News - Giant deep sea jellyfish filmed in Gulf of Mexico". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  7. O'Neill, Kara (2015-08-19). "Mysterious alien-like creature spotted in this deep sea footage - but what is it?". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  8. "An extraordinary deep-sea sighting: The giant phantom jelly". MBARI. 2021-11-30.
  9. Drazen, Jeffrey C.; Robison, Bruce H. (2004). "Direct observations of the association between a deep-sea fish and a giant scyphomedusa". Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology. 37 (3): 209–214. doi:10.1080/10236240400006190.

An extraordinary deep-sea sighting: The giant phantom jelly

Giant, cryptic ocean dweller filmed roaming the deep sea - "Mashable"

Rare monster jellyfish caught on tape – Discovery Channel

Giant phantom jelly - "MBARI"

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