Giant ghost jellyfish filmed in the depths of the Atlantic: "As big as a school bus"

©Iuliia Dutchak via Unsplash

During a scientific expedition off the coast of Argentina, an international team observed a giant ghost jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea). The images, captured at a depth of around 250 meters, show a creature of impressive size, comparable to that of a school bus.

The video reveals the giant ghost jellyfish moving slowly through the deep waters of the South Atlantic.

A surprising size

The animal's wingspan can reach a metre in diameter, while its four long arms can stretch up to 10 metres in length, giving it an appearance as majestic as it is disquieting. Despite its imposing size, Stygiomedusa gigantea has no stinging tentacles; instead, it uses its arms to capture its prey and feed. The combination of its wingspan and slow movements make this jellyfish one of the most extraordinary encounters ever documented in the abyss, a rare creature still little known to science.

Behavior and habitat

Experts point out that the giant ghost jellyfish is a notoriously elusive animal, rarely observed due to the depths at which it evolves. Its presence off Argentina offers new opportunities to study the dynamics of deep ocean ecosystems and the behavior of little-observed species. The images captured by the researchers enable details such as the transparency of its wingspan and the way the arms extend into the water to be observed up close, providing clues to its hunting and movement methods.

The scientific significance of the discovery

This discovery gives us a better understanding of deep-sea biodiversity. And although Stygiomedusa gigantea is one of the largest jellyfish on the planet, it remains largely unknown. The new visual documentation gives scientists a better understanding of these rare species, how they interact with their environment and fit into the oceanic food chain. The discovery was made public by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, which underlines the importance of studying and protecting deep-sea ecosystems.

Source : Schmidt Ocean Institute

(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction/Picture: Iuliia Dutchak via Unsplash)