Deepstaria Enigmatica
May 9, 2012 1:31 AM   Subscribe

Deepstaria Enigmatica, undulating, pulsating, mysterious. It fits in with the crazy-looking ones and is newly discovered. Not yet depicted in this fantastic Japanese illustrated gallery, Creatures of the Deep.

Described as looking like somewhere between Poseidon's condom and a ghost.

Where they are located geographically | They eat plankton, crustaceans, fish eggs, small fish, and other jellyfish.

The Deepstaria Enigmatica is among The Top Ten Cnidarians

About the Deep Sea.

Marine Species Identification Portal: Coronal muscle well developed (but thin) comprising large number of circular, striated muscle fibres near bell margin; distal portion of muscle bending over toward subumbrella. Numerous fibres extending from coronal muscle to subumbrella. Stomach small, about 1/6 of total bell diameter, circular; protruding beneath subumbrella as short, thick-walled manubrial tube; oral arms 4-5, narrow, elongate, basal 1/3 held approximately horizontally, with near right-angled bend and remainder hanging down, terminating in curious hook-shaped organ.

On the Japanese Deep Sea Creatures site: Gallery 1 |2 | 3

Another gallery of deep sea creatures on The Guardian site.

A little about Nereus, one of the Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) used for deep sea exploration.

Discovery's website of photographs of creatures of the deep.

A fun kids' site, The Sea, about deep sea creatures (has sonar sound audio).
posted by nickyskye (34 comments total) 29 users marked this as a favorite
 
Wow. Check out the hexagonal grid structure in the video.
posted by delmoi at 1:51 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


I don't like this thing one bit.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:56 AM on May 9, 2012 [5 favorites]


I suggest they call it the Sea Bawbag.
posted by Jofus at 2:01 AM on May 9, 2012


this thing is apparently a type of starfish. These things look so completely alien.
posted by delmoi at 2:03 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


I have no idea why I feel so strongly about this, but IT'S A WHALE PLACENTA DAMMIT.

And relax.
posted by cromagnon at 2:08 AM on May 9, 2012


delmoi, the amazing grid structure fascinated me too. I did some research on it and think it's a "gastrovascular canal system". I meant to post this link giving interesting details about it in the main post.
posted by nickyskye at 2:16 AM on May 9, 2012


That "Big Red Jelly" is AWESOME.
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 2:17 AM on May 9, 2012


someone call Samus, stat!
posted by reverend cuttle at 3:15 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


I have no idea why I feel so strongly about this, but IT'S A WHALE PLACENTA DAMMIT.

No, it's not.
posted by Pendragon at 3:23 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


This was so elegant and gorgeous! I wish I could move like that. GREAT, GREAT POST.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 3:27 AM on May 9, 2012


no
posted by sonic meat machine at 3:58 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


Shoggoth.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 4:26 AM on May 9, 2012 [5 favorites]


I have no idea why I feel so strongly about this, but IT'S A WHALE PLACENTA DAMMIT.

I really appreciate the skeptics online community, especially in their ruthless rooting-out of snakeoil salesmen, but this is one of those situations where the skeptic echo-chamber makes claims that are weirder and even more difficult to substantiate than the cryptid crowd. Occam's razor, dude... this thing has been known to science since the '60s, it's just that we had no idea it was so motile, and elegant in its movement.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:27 AM on May 9, 2012


The thing in the video has not been formally identified, as far as I know. Being the top voted comment on reddit doesn't count.
posted by empath at 4:52 AM on May 9, 2012 [2 favorites]


I saw Creepshow 2. I'm not going anywhere near that thing.
posted by SharkParty at 6:07 AM on May 9, 2012


I am glad to know there are creatures that are basically big fitted sheets made of flesh.
posted by RedEmma at 6:22 AM on May 9, 2012 [3 favorites]


that was awesome.

I love deep-sea creatures. they are so alien to our known world. and we look at such a tiny area of the deep sea; who knows what's out there.
posted by evening at 6:22 AM on May 9, 2012


I think the whale placenta comment was made in jest. That said, this is definitely a whale placenta.
posted by TheRedArmy at 6:27 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


Life imitates Stephen King.
posted by 445supermag at 6:55 AM on May 9, 2012


Just imagine what lives on Europa or Enceladus. Chilling!
posted by Renoroc at 7:21 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


Whenever I read fiction that features a creature that mesmerizes its prey with undulations and changing colors--"The Raft" or Perdido Street Station--for example, I always think, "nah, come on. I could look away, or overcome that with my mind."

Then I watched that video, and forgot to blink for about a minute.
posted by oneironaut at 7:23 AM on May 9, 2012 [4 favorites]


Life: Variations on a form.

Gotcha. Variations.

No, I don't think you do.
posted by Trochanter at 7:54 AM on May 9, 2012


this room, it is humorless?
posted by IvoShandor at 7:54 AM on May 9, 2012


From the newly discovered link:
Also called a Dumbo Octopus, this Pokemon-like creature is found at 3 miles deep and is about 8 inches tall. It and others like it have been found sitting on the bottom of the ocean floor with their mantles spread out around them. They sit there quietly for no apparent reason, researchers say.
I am skeptical of that statement.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:41 AM on May 9, 2012 [2 favorites]


Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.

Isn't that thing in the first video more of a Stygiomedusa gigantea than a Deepstaria enigmatica?
posted by clarenceism at 10:04 AM on May 9, 2012


That's not a whale placenta, THIS is a whale placenta!

Got nuthin.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:12 AM on May 9, 2012


IAmBroom: Worst variation of "Knifey, Spooney" ever.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:33 AM on May 9, 2012


I was annoyed that there was no sound in this video.

SO, I made this.
posted by geryon at 11:47 AM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


Isn't that thing in the first video more of a Stygiomedusa gigantea than a Deepstaria enigmatica?

No bell or individuated arms, so probably not.
posted by Slap*Happy at 12:58 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


I loved the way the the camera does a double-take at the very beginning. "Ho hum, just a camera in the whatthehellwasthat"

Then I spent the rest of the video waiting for it to exude non-euclidean pseudopods and ooze out of the monitor.
posted by lekvar at 1:32 PM on May 9, 2012 [5 favorites]


geryon, SO, I made this.

Omg, that is so cool! Nifty music choice. Perfect for the occasion.

lekvar, Then I spent the rest of the video waiting for it to exude non-euclidean pseudopods and ooze out of the monitor.

One of my fave mefi comments, ever.
posted by nickyskye at 3:25 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


This better not be viral marketing for some videogame...
posted by Joe Chip at 3:36 PM on May 9, 2012


Identification possibly confirmed?
posted by R343L at 6:47 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


Reaction 1: holy wow that is super neat.

Reaction 2: hmmm maybe this business of going swimming in the ocean isn't such a good idea anymore

Reaction 3: touch it. Go on ROV, touch it. Give it just a little poke. See what happens.
posted by Salmonberry at 6:50 PM on May 9, 2012


« Older Our Concert Could be Your Life   |   Happy Schuman Day! Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments