Scientists discover new species of giant jellyfish lurking in Florida waters

Florida scientists have discovered a new species of giant jellyfish with tentacles more than two inches in length. 

Peter Schuchert and Richard Collins were to identify the sea creature with 'unique' tentacles after performing 91 nighttime scuba dives over the span of several years near Palm Beach off the Gulf Stream. 

The duo were searching 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 hard to find.

Schuchert and Collins were able to collect a series of close-up photos of different kinds of jellyfish, and selected specimens for DNA extraction over the course of their dives. 

A lateral view of the newly discovered Zancleopsis grandis - whose tentacles are over two inches

The manubrium of the Zancleopsis jellyfish

Through 16S barcode sequencing, they were able to discover a new species of jellyfish named Zancleopsis grandis, also known as large Zancleopsis jellyfish.

The new species is considered relatively large as its body reaches just over an inch in height and its tentacles measure over two inches in length, according to the study published. 

Its body shape also shifts as it moves but is long and narrow when static. 

The Zancleopsis grandis has two long primary tentacles covered in unique and giant bulbs.

According to the Miami Herald, Schuchert explained that despite differing in size from regular jellyfish, the Zancleopsis grandis also uses jet-propulsion to move through the water. 

One of the pictures shared in the study shows a large Zancleopsis jellyfish stretched out with the bulbs on its tentacles less pronounced and more club-shaped

Jellyfish are known to move through water by sucking in the liquid and then squirting it back out through a narrowed opening.

Collins confirmed that while many other species of the jellyfish are known to glow in the dark, the Zancleopsis grandis do not. 

One of the pictures shared in the study shows a large Zancleopsis jellyfish stretched out with the bulbs on its tentacles less pronounced and more club-shaped. 

Another photo showed the jellyfish's body and tentacles pulled together as its bulbs appear much rounder as well as prominent. 

The duo also said in the study that they distinguish 49 species of hydromedusae during their research - out of which 18 of them are new additions to the 56 reported in their 2021 paper. 

Schuchert and Collins also wrote that they discovered another type of jellyfish known as Melicertum tropicalis.