Researchers off California have captured incredible footage of this rare deep sea jellyfish.
The giant but elusive creature, which was first officially documented in 1899, has only been filmed nine times over the course of thousands of dives in Monterey Bay and officially spotted just 110 times in 110 years worldwide.
You can find it anywhere, from the surface to 21900ft. However, most of its life is in an area called “the twilight Zone”, which is too dark for any light.
In the latest sighting, the mysterious phantom jellyfish was caught on camera by a deepwater robot at a depth of 3,200ft (990 metres).

Researchers off California have captured extraordinary footage of a deep-sea giant, phantom jefish.

Over the years, nine films have been made of this mysterious and massive creature.

A single angle captures the species’ bell measuring 3.3ft (1m) in width. Its four tentacles spin beneath the bell. The jellyfish looks more like a hat from a higher perspective.
The amazing footage was taken by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).
They managed to capture the deep sea creature, which has bizarre 33ft-long ‘mouth arms’ and is scientifically known as Stygiomedusa gigantea, from three different perspectives.
While the bell of the species is approximately 3.3ft (1m) wide, the four-legged tentacles that surround it vibrate beneath. The jellyfish looks more like a hat from an angle.
If you look closer, the long’mouth arms” of this reddish-purple-coloured creature can be seen. Scientists believe they are used for trapping prey.
It is assumed they feed on plankton and small fishes, but very little is known about how the jellyfish survives.
It was spotted in two locations, including the Gulf of Mexico. However, it is not known if the species may hunt by holding onto subsea structures so that its arms can be freed to catch food.
The research institute stated that scientists know little about the animal even now.
“The difficulties of accessing the deep-water habitat of this species contributes to its relative rarity of sightings.”
The scientists believe giant phantom jellyfish can be found in oceans all over the world, except for the Arctic.
Before underwater robots were invented, experts used trawling nets to study deep sea creatures such as Stygiomedusa gigantea.
But, if one is caught and brought to the surface of the water, MBARI researchers discovered that its smooth-looking frame transforms into “gelatinous, goo”.
This makes underwater robots an excellent way to study the species and find out more about its survival.
MBARI, however, has only nine observations of the gigantic phantom jellyfish in its 34-year history of deep sea research.

Scientists believe that giant phantom jellyfish are found in every ocean except the Arctic.

Although it is believed that jellyfish feed on plankton, small fishes and other foods, very little information is available about their survival.

If you look closer, the long’mouth arms” of this reddish-purple-coloured creature can be seen. Scientists believe they are used for trapping prey.
The predator is one of the most powerful invertebrate invertebrates in the deep ocean ecosystem.
Previous footage captured in 2004 also showed a fish swimming inside and in close proximity to the bell of the jellyfish.
Even the camera captured it laying on top of the jellyfish.
It was thought that the fish belonged to Thalassobathia perlagica, which is a rare species and has an symbiotic relationship.
By swimming within the jellyfish it is able to feed on scraps of food and have a certain level of protection in an otherwise shelterless abyss.
Video was posted by the institute.