--- title: Eerie Jellyfish Found Floating Miles Beneath the Ocean description: This jellyfish just discovered in the deep ocean looks like it's part of a dreamscape, but it's real. canonical: https://time.com/4312405/beautiful-jellyfish-mariana-trench/ author: Tessa Berenson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-29T15:37:47.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T17:08:53.689Z article:section: Science og:title: This Trippy Jellyfish Is Like Something From a Dream og:description: But it's real og:url: https://time.com/4312405/beautiful-jellyfish-mariana-trench/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3407d7953789ae6a/6988912e5f570f1bd8b20b32/crossota-jellyfish.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Crossota sponge og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Trippy Jellyfish Is Like Something From a Dream twitter:description: But it's real twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3407d7953789ae6a/6988912e5f570f1bd8b20b32/crossota-jellyfish.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Trippy Jellyfish Is Like Something From a Dream  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Apr 29, 2016 3:37 PM UTC  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](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Apr 29, 2016 3:37 PM UTC 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/), the jellyfish was found this week by the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](http://www.noaa.gov/)‘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) 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. 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