Weird and Wonderful: The psychedelic jelly is one of the most colorful residents of the deep sea

This jelly is one of the most colorful residents of the oceans midnight zone. The remarkable coloration of this jelly tipped off scientists that they had found a previously unknown species. It was named in honor of Claudia Mills for her dedication to studying the oceans delicate drifters. MBARI has observed several species of Crossota in Monterey Canyon. Unlike many jellies, we can see obvious differences between the males and females. The eggs in the females are large and globular, while the male gonads are shaped like sausages. The baby medusae stay attached under the mothers bell until they are ready to launch. While brooding behavior is not unique to this jelly, it is always exciting to observe in the deep sea. MBARIs robotic submersibles give us a peek at how animals thrive in the oceans dark depths. Video editor: Ted Blanco Script writer: Megan Bassett Production team: Kyra Schlining, Susan von Thun, Nancy Jacobsen Stout Follow MBARI on social media: Facebook: