Scientists Discover Never-Before-Seen 'Translucent' Sea Creature Off Australia's Northwest Coast
Benthic siphonophores are underwater predators that use a web of tentacles -- like a giant underwater spider web -- to lure prey. Scientists stumbled across the rare animal after trawling through shallow waters off the coast of Australia with submerged cameras.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as much as 95 per cent of the world's oceans and 99 per cent of the ocean floor are unexplored.
On rare occasions, scientists come across some creatures that leave them absolutely dumbfounded. In one such find, Australian scientists were left baffled after spotting a field of floating "translucent" sea creature.
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Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) have discovered rare benthic siphonophores during their recent voyage to Kimberley Marine Park, Australia.
Benthic siphonophores are underwater predators that use a web of tentacles -- like a giant underwater spider web that uses light and motion -- to lure prey.
Scientists stumbled across the rare animal after trawling through shallow waters off the coast of Australia with submerged cameras.
A video of the same was shared by AIMS on their recent finding at the Kimberley Marine Park. Expedition leader Dr Karen Miller said: 'We were undertaking towed video surveys to characterise the seabed biodiversity when we noticed lots of what looked like "pom poms".
'On closer inspection of high-resolution images, we realised what we were seeing were fields of benthic siphonophores.
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Benthic siphonophores anchor themselves to the surface, while their bodies keep floating like balloons. Karen explained, ¡°They were just like this pom-pom that was floating about 50 centimetres or so off the seabed and we were looking at them and going 'this is really weird'.¡±
The Kimberley Marine Park is home to some of the state's most ancient marine heritage, with rock formations and beaches dating back 17,000 years.
