Giant Siphonophore
Looking at this photo, my first guess is that a rhythmic gymnast took up synchronized swimming and was never seen again. This spiral form certainly looks like a ribbon twirling through the ocean, but scientists say it’s a gigantic siphonophore, in this case one measuring 50 feet across. And yes, it’s alive, or at least alive in the sense that it’s a huge colony of individuals. The tiny creatures link up and cooperate to perform various tasks. These spiral collectives are equipped with stinging tentacles for killing prey, so you’d best keep away.
