NOAA Capture Stunning Video of Alien-Like Jellyfish in the Depths of Marianas Trench [Video]

A stunning video of an alien-like jellyfish sporting two kinds of tentacle, long and short, and a pulsating bell was captured during the first leg of the 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and partners.

According to NOAA, the alien-like jellyfish is believed to be a hydromedusa belonging to the genus Crossota. It was spotted during the Dive 4 of NOAA's Okeanos Explorer ROV (remotely operated vehicle) on April 24, 2016 at a depth of 3,700 meters in the Enigma Seamount.

In the first few seconds of the video, notice that the tentacles of the jellyfish are extended while the bell remain still, this position, according to scientists, is most likely the ambush-predation mode. The tentacles serve as a net, ensnaring and subduing potential prey.

Upon closer observation of the bell, you'll notice radiating colors of red and yellow. Scientists believe that the bright yellow is the gonads while the red ones are the radial canals that serve as the connecting points of the gonads.

According to the daily updates of the mission, researchers also found other amazing creatures in the area where alien-like jellyfish was spotted. Other finds include crinoids, sponges, sea cucumbers, dandelion, amphipods, a benthic ctenophore, a predatory tunicate, and isidid and stylasterid corals.

The first leg of the 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas started last April 20 and is scheduled to end on May 11. The second leg will begin briefly after the first leg and is slated to depart on May 20, while the third leg will begin on June 17.

The 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas, according to Live Science, is a three-course expedition run by NOAA and partners. During the 10-week mission, researchers will explore the depths of the Mariana Trench in hopes to gain better understanding of deep-water habitats in and around the trench. The exploration started last April 20 and will end on July 10.