'Bus-Sized' Rare Jellyfish Discovered By Scientists In Argentina | Video

Last Updated:February 05, 2026, 08:21 IST

Researchers filmed the rare giant phantom jellyfish, with 10-metre-long arms, swimming 250 metres below Argentina’s waters.

The giant phantom jellyfish was discovered swimming 250 metres below Argentina’s waters. (Credits: X)

In a rare finding, an international research team led by Argentine scientists has discovered a giant phantom jellyfish, which can grow as big as a school bus.

The scientists discovered a remarkable finding during a deep-sea expedition off Argentina’s coast. The mission, carried out aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel R/V Falkor, explored the country’s vast continental shelf from Buenos Aires to waters near Tierra del Fuego.

During the survey, researchers documented what they believe is the world’s largest known Bathelia candida coral reef, covering about 0.4 square kilometres — nearly the size of Vatican City. The team also recorded 28 possible new species, including worms, corals, sea urchins, sea snails and anemones, along with large reef systems full of marine life.

Chief scientist Dr Mara Emilia Bravo from the University of Buenos Aires and CONICET described the findings as “incredible", saying they revealed unexpected biodiversity and connections between ecosystems in Argentine waters.

Whale skeleton And Deep-Sea Habitats Found

The expedition also recorded Argentina’s first deep-water “whalefall" at 3,890 metres in the Argentine Basin. The remains of the whale provide food and shelter for scavengers, microbes and bone-eating Osedax worms for decades.

Researchers found ancient bubblegum coral gardens (Paragorgia arborea) growing among sponges in the Malvinas Trough at around 3,000 metres depth. At 619 metres, a one-square-kilometre active cold seep supported chemosynthetic clams and squat lobsters.

Scientists noted that deep-sea corals grow very slowly and form vulnerable marine ecosystems that can be damaged by activities such as bottom trawling.

Dr Melisa Fernández Severini of the Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía said the samples collected would help scientists study fragile deep-sea environments for years to come.

Signs Of Pollution Even In Deep Ocean

The team also found human waste, including intact Korean VHS tapes and fishing nets, showing how far plastic pollution has spread. Schmidt Ocean Institute executive director Dr Jyotika Virmani said the ocean contains 98 per cent of Earth’s habitable space and stressed the need for continued exploration and protection.

The expedition has opened a new window into Argentina’s deep-sea world, combining major discoveries with a warning about human impact on marine ecosystems.

News viral 'Bus-Sized' Rare Jellyfish Discovered By Scientists In Argentina | Video

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