Deepstarialooks like a cross between a ghost emoji and a drift charge card bag , but do n’t be influence to underrate this shape - shifting Portuguese man-of-war : it ’s among the largest and strangest spineless predators of the deep sea .
There are two recognized species ofDeepstaria – D. enigmaticaandD. second stomach – named after the US research sub Deepstar 4000 thatfirst discoveredthe genus in the 1960s .
On the systematic family tree , they are part of a class calledScyphozoa , which are typically referred to as true man-of-war . However , Deepstariahas some significant difference from their other jelly congenator .
Jellyfishtypically have lank tentacle with a comparatively minuscule bell – yetDeepstariais the opposite , featuring very pocket-size tentacle and a big bell that stretches like a chute . The extensive Vanessa Stephen ofDeepstariafeatures a distinct geometric interlocking pattern , which are the channels of its gastrovascular organisation that deliver nutrients around its body .
Many man-of-war live in groups known as shoals or cloud because they tend to be overtake in ocean currents , butDeepstariaappear to be lone rangers that endure a relatively solitary existence in the turbid depths of the sea ’s abysm .
The jellies live in the bathypelagic region of the macrocosm ’s oceans at depth ranging from 600 to 1,750 metre ( 1,968 to 5,741 feet ) . This part of the sea is get laid as themidnight zonebecause it has little to no natural twinkle and features cold , salty water that hover around 4 ° C ( 39 ° fluorine ) .
In 2018 , scientists madea rare live observation of aD. enigmaticanear Mexico ’s Pacific coast and reported that it quantify 68.3 by 55.7 centimeter ( ~27 by 22 inches ) . Although this was believe to be a comparatively large person , Deepstariajellyfish are enceinte for deepsea invertebrate predator .
One of the most remarkable observations come in in 2019 when scientist onboard theEV Nautilus research vesselcaptured video footage ( above ) of aDeepstariajellyfish in the Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument .
Amid many “ woahs ” and “ oooooohs ” , the research worker note that a house physician redisopodwas survive inside the blanket - like toll . It ’s uncertain whether this relationship is symbiotic ( as in , both party are benefiting from the alliance ) orparasitic(a one - sided friendship that only benefits the isopod ) .
The isopod remains protected from marauder inside the jellyfish bell , plus it probably obtains food from its consistency , but it is unclear what benefit the man-of-war is make . Nevertheless , minor crustacean and other creatures are often found exist inside the bell ofDeepstaria , suggesting this improbable bond runs abstruse .
