Ghostly critters from the deep sea: Stygiomedusa gigantea

Stygiomedusa gigantea is one of the largest invertebrate predators known in the ocean, yet little is understood about its ecology and behavior. Stygiomedusa lacks tentacles, but has four extraordinarily large oral arms that are presumably used to envelope prey. The swimming bell of this spectacular medusa can reach over one meter across with arms over ten meters long. A symbiotic relationship between Stygiomedusa and the fish, Thalassobathia pelagica, was confirmed in 2003 when scientists from the Monterey