Deep-sea explorers have shared beguiling footage of a silky jelly (Colobonema sericeum) dancing through the twilight zone.
“This illuminated disco dancer was observed during the 35-day 2024 #SEPacificSeamounts expedition,” says Schmidt Ocean Institute on Instagram.
These jiggling jellies are known for their ability to detach their own tentacles when they need to escape from danger. “This is an amazing adaptation for surviving predation, because shedding tentacles cuts down on water resistance, allowing the jelly to cover more distance with each pulse of its bell,” according to Dr. Dhugal Lindsay, aka The Jellyman.
“Additionally, the tentacles produce light (bioluminescence), which may distract predators long enough for the jelly to make its escape.”
Image and video credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute
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