Bizarre sea creature spotted for first time in Pacific Ocean
A scientific expedition has captured a view of a rare sea creature for the first time in the Pacific Ocean.
The Ocean Exploration Trust's Nautilus expedition posted a video of the never-before-seen encounter, about three kilometres below the ocean's surface on the Johnston Atoll, a US unincorporated territory west of Hawaii.
The cameras caught sight of a "sea pen", anchored to the ocean floor with 40 centimetres tentacles flowing out from its two-metre-long stalk.
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A rare "sea pen" has been spotted in the Pacific Ocean. Ocean Exploration Trust
"You're playing it cool," one researcher can be heard saying as the exploration vessel gets closer.
"I'm keeping it chill," another agrees with a laugh.
"Definitely not on the edge of my seat or anything."
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The species (solumbellula monocephalus) had previously only been spotted in the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
But the Trust said further analysis would determine if this animal was in fact a member of that species, or potentially a new one.
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