Australian Scientists Discover Massive Deep Sea Predator That Looks Like Silly String

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The massive siphonophore was discovered in the waters off western Australia (Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute)

On March 16, 2020, researchers aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's ship Falkor stumbled upon a beautiful *giant* Apolemia, a type of siphonophore, in the Indian Ocean off western Australia. The scientists are not sure of the exact length of the silly string-like creature, which was found in the Ningaloo Canyons at a depth of 2,070 feet (631 meters). However, based on the measurement of its outer ring by a laser-equipped drone, they estimate it was 150 feet (46 meters) long.

"We think it's the longest animal recorded to date," Dr. Carlie Wiener, director of marine communications at the institute, told USA TODAY.

Each siphonophore is a colony of thousands of individuals (Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute/Instagram)

Siphonophores, which are related to jellyfish, are deep-sea predators that prey on tiny crustacean and fish using the vast array of stinging cells on their tentacles. Though they appear as a single organism, every specimen is a gelatinous colony made up of thousands of individuals, each fulfilling a specialized function. Some are responsible for catching prey, while others are charged with distributing the nutrients throughout the colony.

Dr. Rebecca Helm, an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, who was not part of the expedition, believes the find is significant because siphonophores are fragile and hard to find. "I've gone on numerous expeditions and have never, EVER, seen anything like this," she wrote in a tweet. "THIS animal is massive. AND not just massive, the colony is exhibiting a stunning behavior: it's hunting." The researcher, who specializes in the evolution and development of jellyfish, speculates that because it takes a long time for life to grow in the near-freezing deep sea temperatures, this creature could be "tens, possibly HUNDREDS of years old."

This was not the only intriguing animal discovered by the Schmidt Ocean Institute researchers during their investigation of the rarely explored deep-sea areas in and around Australia. Their month-long expedition across Bremer Bay, Perth Canyon, and the Ningaloo Canyons, which involved 20 dives, has led to the discovery of about 30 new species! Here is a glimpse of the amazing underwater world the lucky scientists experienced.

Resources: USAtoday.com, schmidtocean.org, www.slashgear.com

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283 Comments
  • mushroom69
    mushroom69about 4 years
    awesome
    • nico2
      nico2about 4 years
      This is fascinating, as a jellyfish lover. These are so cool! I want to know more about them. Hopefully they become better known.
      • love_the_ocean
        love_the_oceanabout 4 years
        I love Jellyfish I love all fish, I love every animal in the ocean. And don't worry, I'll spread the word!
        • tigerzeye
          tigerzeyeabout 4 years
          These are not jellyfish, or fish. Mainly known as the Giant Siphonophore, (the silly string looking one) the Potuguese Man O War is a Siphonophore as well, the most interesting one in my opinion, is also the most terrifying, i couldnt find the name but its stingers (i think stingers) are at its face and then it just once again starts to look like silly string.
    • huskylover92
      huskylover92about 4 years
      it seems kind of cool to me
      • rip_rora
        rip_roraabout 4 years
        Awesome!
        • coolvae
          coolvaeover 4 years
          I don't know how LOOONG it is.
          • tigerzeye
            tigerzeyeabout 4 years
            oh, the only reason its so long most likely because bergmans law, being the colder the temperature, the larger a creature will get,.
            • tigerzeye
              tigerzeyeabout 4 years
              about 150ft, its only about as thick as a broomstick.
            • ceebee
              ceebeeover 4 years
              It looks like a LOOOOOONG string
              • 11008800
                11008800over 4 years
                It doesn't look like a predator but it might be dangerous!!
                • happypig2020
                  happypig2020over 4 years
                  It's interesting that it's never been spotted before and it's the longest animal recorded in history. That's cool!
                  • i_like_roblox
                    i_like_robloxover 4 years
                    It is pretty cool... but at the same time, it is also a preditor.
                    • hermione2008
                      hermione2008over 4 years
                      I’m shocked that it’s a predator.