What is the placental jellyfish?

[zoobyshoe]

You may have heard it said that the largest organ in the human body is the skin. This weird creature seems to consist exclusively of that organ. Skip forward to about 1:30 for the best view of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E-8_wDgN7c

 

[ThomasT]

That's one strange sea creature. What is it? It's got to be more than just a bunch of skin, doesn't it?

 

[wukunlin]

 

[zoobyshoe]

That's one strange sea creature. What is it? It's got to be more than just a bunch of skin, doesn't it?

I have no idea what it is. It seemed like a jellyfish at first, but then, the way it moves reminded me more of an octopus.

 

[apeiron]

I have no idea what it is. It seemed like a jellyfish at first, but then, the way it moves reminded me more of an octopus.

A giant salp.

 

[zoobyshoe]

A giant salp.

First time I've ever heard of them. They are very strange.

 

[apeiron]

First time I've ever heard of them. They are very strange.

Correction: looks like it has been identified as a jellyfish - Deepstaria enigmatica.

http://deepseanews.com/2012/05/solving-the-mystery-of-the-placental-jellyfish/

Giant salp looks like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MO-zViKZbUg

(scroll to end for diver sticking head in one)

 

[DataGG]

Can someone please post the link to the youtube video? I'm using RequestPolicy addon for firefox and... well... I can't see the video.

 

[wukunlin]

i thought about being a jellyfish but it just didn't look like any jellyfish I've seen before

Can someone please post the link to the youtube video? I'm using RequestPolicy addon for firefox and... well... I can't see the video.

http://youtu.be/-E-8_wDgN7c

 

[Dickfore]

The depth says 5044 ' = 1537 m. At this depth, the hydrostatic pressure is about 150 atmospheres.

 

[Office_Shredder]

So... it's a really flat jellyfish?

 

[KiwiKid]

It actually looks like a floating old plastic bag.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Correction: looks like it has been identified as a jellyfish - Deepstaria enigmatica.

http://deepseanews.com/2012/05/solving-the-mystery-of-the-placental-jellyfish/

Yes, this is what I noticed in the video:

The radial canal system is most striking. It consists of a meshwork, likened by Dr. Barham to wire-netting.

Kind of an irregular chicken wire pattern visible in the "skin".