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January 17, 2021: Jellyfish

A deep-sea jellyfish, Atolla sp., collected using the Global Explorer remotely operated vehicle from a depth of at least 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) in the Celebes Sea of the western Pacific Ocean, part of the area known as the “Coral Triangle.” The red color is common among deep-sea medusae, as the coloration is invisible in the perpetual darkness and at the same time masks any bioluminescence of prey in the jelly's gut.

Image courtesy of Exploring the Inner Space of the Celebes Sea 2007 Exploration, NOAA-OE. Download larger version (jpg, 148 KB).

A deep-sea jellyfish, Atolla sp., collected using the Global Explorer remotely operated vehicle from a depth of at least 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) in the Celebes Sea of the western Pacific Ocean, part of the area known as the “Coral Triangle.” The red color is common among deep-sea medusae, as the coloration is invisible in the perpetual darkness and at the same time masks any bioluminescence of prey in the jelly's gut.

Want to know more about why red is such a common color in the deep ocean? Read this ocean fact.