It is estimated that there are currently about 10 million species on our planet. And despite centuries of work, effort and dedication, 86% of these species are yet to be discovered, As shown in various studies. This means that less than 15% of the species circulating on planet Earth are catalogued. Not only that: with the current pace of discovery, most of them are very likely to disappear before we document them.

The situation of the oceans is not much different. Estimated number of species that can be found in the seas Between 150,000 and 10 millionbe a million The most reasonable figure for the UNAM Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology. Only 250,000 of them are known, which means that around 70% are still a mystery.

This is the case of the animal in today’s story. More than a dozen striped tentacles pass behind a translucent body adorned with rings of different sizes. A bright red organ (possibly gastrovascular cavity) inside. a fascinating show for our eyes. A natural wonder at its best.

It is actually a jellyfish. Something rare enough to be seen only twice in a lifetime.

It’s just as surprising how it happened. Off the coast of Queensland, Australia, a diver recorded a giant jellyfish swimming next to it. Within hours, he posted the video to Facebook, saying it was larger than a soccer ball and swimming “quite fast.” As some biologists later confirmed, it turned out that Chirodectes maculatus (Latin for “spotted”) is an extremely rare jellyfish species found in Australia.

This species was first described in 2005. A team of Australian scientists led by biologist Paul Cornelius was able to capture a specimen they named in 1997. chirophalmus and in that article they commented on their reluctance to study the animal, so they only made outside observations. It wouldn’t be until a year later that the organism was registered in the genus. chirodects with scientist Lisa-Ann Gershwin, who published a study on jellyfish.

In this Vice report, a zoologist with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Dr. Allen Collins explained, although it is not possible to distinguish all the characteristics of the species. Chirodectes maculatus in the video, very good for explanation. He also highlights that the color pattern on the jellyfish’s “bell” is different from what the original scientists had described. The one from 2005 has solid spots, while the one in the video has rings.

Even so, the expert would most likely have “a kind of chirodects closely related but not yet described” and is surprised that “something so large and conspicuous in appearance has only been seen twice in history”.

As for the venom of the animal, there are no recorded cases of biting in humans so far. However, due to its large size and venomous nature of chiropods, jellyfish are most likely chirodects It’s a pity to be so venomous, because it’s a beautiful animal.

Picture and video: Scuba Ventures Kavieng