- Peter Schuchert and Richard Collins found the species after 91 dives
- They discovered Zancleopsis grandis, whose tentacles are more than five centimeters long
- The duo found the large sea creature off Palm Beach, near the Gulf Stream
Florida scientists have discovered a new species of giant jellyfish with tentacles more than two inches long.
Peter Schuchert and Richard Collins had to identify the sea creature with ‘unique’ tentacles after conducting 91 night dives over several years near Palm Beach, on the Gulf Stream.
The duo were looking for a group of ocean animals known as hydromedusa (commonly known as jellyfish) during their dives.
These small animals live in deep waters and only come to the surface at night, making them otherwise difficult to find.
Schuchert and Collins were able to collect a series of close-up photos of different species of jellyfish during their dives and select specimens for DNA extraction.
A side view of the newly discovered Zancleopsis grandis, whose tentacles are more than two inches long
The manubrium of the Zancleopsis jellyfish
Using 16S barcode sequencing, they were able to discover a new species of jellyfish called Zancleopsis grandis, also known as the large Zancleopsis jellyfish.
The new species is considered relatively large because its body is just over an inch high and its tentacles are over two inches long, according to the study published.
The body shape also changes when moving, but is long and narrow when static.
The Zancleopsis grandis has two long primary tentacles covered with unique and gigantic bulbs.
According to the Miami HeraldSchuchert explained that despite being different in size from common jellyfish, the Zancleopsis grandis also uses jet propulsion to move through the water.
One of the photos shared in the study shows a large Zancleopsis jellyfish stretched out with the bulbs on the tentacles less pronounced and more club-shaped
Jellyfish are known to move through water by sucking in the liquid and then squirting it out through a narrowed opening.
Collins confirmed that while many other species of jellyfish are known to glow in the dark, the Zancleopsis grandis do not.
One of the photos shared in the study shows a large Zancleopsis jellyfish stretched out with the bulbs on the tentacles less pronounced and more club-shaped.
In another photo, the jellyfish’s body and tentacles were drawn together, as the bulbs looked much rounder and more prominent.
The duo also said in the study that during their research they identified 49 species of hydromedusae – 18 of which are new additions to the 56 reported in their 2021 paper.
Schuchert and Collins also wrote that they discovered another species of jellyfish, known as Melicertum tropicalis.
