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Everyone knows that the depths of the sea are dark and full of nightmare creatures, which seem to have arisen from the subconscious of HP Lovecraft. Which means it should come as no surprise that scientists have just announced the discovery of another rare aquatic species. One that floats aimlessly and mysteriously, like a bright, translucent balloon in search of … something.
Science Alert reported on the discovery, which scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) described in a recent article. NOAA scientists actually observed the new species and genus of blotch in 2015 off the coast of Puerto Rico. Confirmation that the stain, nicknamed Duobrachium sparksae, it is indeed a new species that has only arrived now, however.
Talking about sparksgenetics or how it behaves, the details are still elusive. However, NOAA scientists are sure that the stain is some kind of ctenophore. Ctenophores, also known as sea currants or comb jellies, comprise a phylum of invertebrate marine animals. They almost always look like translucent spots and often have macabre characteristics.
NOAA Fisheries
“It was a beautiful and unique organism,” said NOAA fisheries scientist Mike Ford in a press release. Ford added that after having the video of sparks, the scientists reviewed historical texts on ctenophores. They eventually discovered that it was in fact different enough to present itself as a new genus and species.
Allen Collins, Director of NOAA’s National Systematics Laboratory, highlights sparksUnique physiology in the video at the top. It’s like a “party balloon, only instead of having a string dangling, it has two dangling bits,” he says. He adds that each of the “hanging pieces” is a tentacle. Each of the tentacles also skims the ground, perhaps looking for prey, while floating 13,000 feet below the ocean’s surface.
In addition to cataloging the new strange species, NOAA scientists were more excited about how they discovered sparks. Scientists say they identified the species solely from underwater images from 2015. And while NOAA says the method is controversial, it was appropriate in this case. A good thing, because if it weren’t, the scientists would have had to put up with and dissect the squishy nightmare. And really, it deserves to float free so that it can hunt and kill prey in peace.
Featured Image: NOAA Fisheries
