In the shadowy realms of the ocean’s depths, where sunlight barely penetrates and pressures are extreme, a mysterious creature that vaguely resembles a “Flying Spaghetti Monster” has captivated both scientists and internet speculators. An undersea wonder that goes by the name Bathyphysa Siphonophore has been fueling our imagination and scientific past years.
Discovery and Naming
In August 2015, the Bathyphysa Siphonophore made headlines when BP workers found it at a depth of 4,000 feet while they were servicing an oil rig. Its appearance was bizarre enough to have them calling the creature, “the Flying Spaghetti Monster”—a jovial nod toward a satirical god.
The video of this encounter was showed to Daniel Jones from National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, who was also part of Serpent project. This initiative uses footage from deep-sea operations to identify unknown marine life. Bathyphysa Siphonophore, identified first as Bathyphysa Conifera, subsequent investigation showed it to belong in the genus.
Structure and Adaptations
Bathyphysa siphonophore belongs to the Siphonophorae family. Siphonophores differ from solitary jellyfish by being colonial animals made of specialized individuals, or zooids. Zooids are specialized to fulfill specific roles like reproduction, digestion, flotation or positioning the body and serve as parts of a whole more complex individual. The organism’s body, which can extend several meters, combines medusoids (jellyfish-like entities) and polyp-like zooids into a single, functioning unit.
Adapted to life in the bathypelagic zone—between 1,000 and 3,000 meters below the surface—Bathyphysa Siphonophore possesses remarkable bioluminescence capabilities. This adaptation likely serves to attract prey or deter predators in the dark depths of the ocean.
Recent Discoveries
A new video by the Schmidt Ocean Institute was uploaded on September, 2024. Bathyphysa Siphonophore was seen at 665 meters deep by researchers during their Nazca High Seas expedition The video not only celebrates the continued exploration of poorly known seamounts but also demonstrates that these distant corners of our planet harbor a rich diversity yet to be discovered.
Through the lens of its video, the Schmidt Ocean Institute takes on a particular importance as well: It provides an all-new look at Bathyphysa siphonophore and sheds light on elements of their structure and behavior that had not yet made it into any scientific literature. The spaghetti-like look of this complex colonial is a great symbol for deep-sea biodiversity as you can see in the Bathyssphace siphonophore.