This potentially “unknown” or “undescribed” red jellyfish of the genus Poralia was captured on camera. The new species of jellyfish was found floating nearly 700 meters below the surface.
The North Atlantic Stepping Stones Expedition traveled along the east coast of the United States in search of unknown marine life. NOAA researchers used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for dives to depths ranging from 820 to 4,000 meters.
“The data collected over a total of 25 planned ROV dives along with the collected mapping data will allow scientists and managers to build a better understanding of the diversity and distribution of deep-sea habitats in this region , allowing for informed decisions. on resource management, ” NOAA said in a statement.
The red jellyfish was discovered by Quinn Girasek, a Hollings Fellow with the NOAA Ocean Exploration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who was assisting with the research.
The last dive of the expedition focused on the water column within Hydrographer Canyon through two series of transects. The team sent the ROV through a varied range of depths during the first series of the dive, starting with 300 meters, then 500, 700 and ending with 900 meters. The second part of the mission undertook the bathypelagic or midnight zone of the ocean, which is 1,200 meters below the surface. “The DSL is a region in the water column where there is such a high density of marine organisms that they generate their own sonar signal,” explained NOAA. ” During the dive, we observed more than 650 individuals throughout the water column, including ctenophores, siphonophores, jellyfish, arrowworms, shrimp, larvae, and several different fish.”
