--- description: This jellyfish just discovered in the deep ocean looks like it's part of a dreamscape, but it's real. title: This Trippy Jellyfish Is Like Something From a Dream image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3407d7953789ae6a/6988912e5f570f1bd8b20b32/crossota-jellyfish.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [animals](/tag/animals/) ## animals Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # This Trippy Jellyfish Is Like Something From a Dream  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 29, 2016 3:37 PM CUT  Crossota sponge, a deep red medusa found just off the bottom of the deep sea. From Alaska, Beaufort Sea, North of Point Barrow, 2005. Crossota sponge, a deep red medusa found just off the bottom of the deep sea. From Alaska, Beaufort Sea, North of Point Barrow, 2005.Kevin Raskoff—Universal History Archive/UIG/Getty Images  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 29, 2016 3:37 PM CUT This jellyfish just discovered in the deep ocean looks like it’s part of a dreamscape, but it’s real. [According to a Scientific American blog](http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/artful-amoeba/a-jellyfish-so-surreal-that-it-looks-unreal-is-discovered-on-the-enigma-seamount/ "undefined"), the jellyfish was found this week by the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](http://www.noaa.gov/ "undefined")‘s ship _Okeanos Explorer_ and its ROV _Deep Discoverer_ on the Enigma Seamount near the Mariana Trench. The [Mariana Trench](http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/explore-mariana-trench-with-live-video-feed-160427.htm "undefined") is the deepest part of the ocean, and the jellyfish was discovered floating 2.3 miles beneath the surface (3,700 meters). Scientists believe the creature is part of the genus Crossota, a group of jellyfish that are ocean drifters for all phases of their lives. And if you want to add another layer of eeriness to the video: scientists think the still, outstretched posture the jelly takes in the beginning of the clip is how it ambushes prey. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4312405/beautiful-jellyfish-mariana-trench/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4312405/beautiful-jellyfish-mariana-trench/"},"headline":"This Trippy Jellyfish Is Like Something From a Dream","datePublished":"2016-04-29T15:37:47.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T17:08:53.689Z","description":"Watch as it prepares to ambush its prey","url":"https://time.com/4312405/beautiful-jellyfish-mariana-trench/","keywords":["animals","Oceans"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3407d7953789ae6a/6988912e5f570f1bd8b20b32/crossota-jellyfish.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tessa Berenson","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3407d7953789ae6a/6988912e5f570f1bd8b20b32/crossota-jellyfish.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Crossota sponge","caption":"Crossota sponge, a deep red medusa found just off the bottom of the deep sea. From Alaska, Beaufort Sea, North of Point Barrow, 2005.","creditText":"Kevin Raskoff—Universal History Archive/UIG/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/animals/","name":"animals"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4312405/beautiful-jellyfish-mariana-trench/","name":"This Trippy Jellyfish Is Like Something From a Dream"}}]}] ```