"Up close and personal with a big red jelly.
Tiburonia granrojo, also known as the big red jelly, is one of the most remarkable residents of the deep sea. These crimson giants can measure a full meter across (just over three feet), but unlike jellies that dwell near the ocean’s surface, this species doesn’t have tentacles. Instead, a cluster of finger-like oral arms dangles beneath its bulky bell.
A closer look reveals batteries of stinging nematocysts that cover the surface of the big red jelly. These tiny harpoon-like cells stun prey—though we’re still not sure what this species eats. Their size makes these jellies difficult to study in the lab, so the video observations recorded by high-definition cameras on MBARI’s robotic submersibles have been invaluable in building our understanding of this species."