Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species
Why in News?
Recently, Scientists filmed the rare giant phantom jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea) alive off Argentina, revealing new deep-sea biodiversity insights.
- Scientific name – Stygiomedusa gigantea
- Genus – Stygiomedusa
- Discovery – Observed off the coast of Argentina 250 metres below the South Atlantic surface.
- First collected in 1899 and recognised as a distinct species 60 years later.
- Habitat – Midnight zone, deep-sea layer up to 13,000 feet, living in extreme, low-food conditions.
- Distribution – South Atlantic off Argentina, including deep waters around Patagonia.
- Rarely documented in other oceans globally.
- Characteristics – Size – One of the largest jellyfish species.
- Bell – Up to 3 feet (1 m) in diameter.
- Arms – Ribbon-like tendrils up to 30 feet (10 m) long.
- Hunting – Uses long ribbon-like arms to catch plankton and small fish.
- Diet – Feeds on plankton and small fish by reeling them into its mouth using long arms.
- Behaviour – Provides shelter to smaller fish in the deep sea.
- Symbiotic interaction – Maintains symbiotic relationships with fish species that feed on its parasites, such as pelagic brotula and Centrolophus species.
- Uniqueness – It is a rare deep-sea species rarely seen alive, and is elusive in nature.
- Ecological Significance – Highlights deep-sea biodiversity and underscores the importance of conserving extreme ocean ecosystems.
Reference
IE | Giant Phantom Jellyfish
