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Deep-Sea Jellyfish

The hydromedusa species of deep sea jellyfish, as seen in 2016.
The hydromedusa species of deep sea jellyfish, as seen in 2016. Image: NOAA

What appears to be a sci-fi induced hallucination brought on by a combination of magic mushrooms, cheese puffs, and frog’s breath is actually a deep-sea jellyfish known as hydromedusa. Researchers on the Okeanos Explorer vessel spotted this guy in the Mariana Trench near a tiny volcano back in 2016. Check out some other examples of deepwater jellies that seem like they might not be real:

Another hydromedusa, this one spotted on a ridge located just west of the Mariana Trench.
Another hydromedusa, this one spotted on a ridge located just west of the Mariana Trench. Image: NOAA
A rhopalonematid trachymedusa, spotted in the Samoan archipelago in 2017.
A rhopalonematid trachymedusa, spotted in the Samoan archipelago in 2017. Image: NOAA

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