Hypnotizing footage reveals a never-before-seen swimming sea slug that eats using a large jelly-like hood and glows to defend itself from predators.
Living at depths of between 3,300 and 13,100 feet, (1,000 to 4,000 meters), the mystery mollusc (Bathydevius caudactylus) is the first nudibranch species found living in the deep water column. Researchers first captured footage of the animal in February 2000 using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) off the Monterey Bay coast. They spent the next 20 years learning more and gathering enough information to publish the most comprehensive description of a deep-sea animal to date.
