Rare exploding Firework Jellyfish
Deep sea explorers captured the frilled tentacles of a rare jellyfish that resembled a firework on November 13 in the Pacific Ocean.
The jellyfish – a Halitrephes maasi – came into view at 1225 meters east of Socorro Island, in the Revillagigedo Archipelago island chain, off Baja California, Mexico.
The Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) was running a scientific exploration of the seafloor from aboard E/V Nautilus, a 64-meter (211 foot) research vessel.
The Halitrephes maasi is a species of deep sea jellyfish, of the family Halicreatidae. According to the OET, radial canals that move nutrients through the jelly’s bell form a starburst pattern that reflects the lights of ROV Hercules with bright splashes of yellow and pink — but without artificial lights, the gelatinous beauty would drifts unseen in the dark.
