The mystifying sea is dwelling house to some deep weird creatures . Not many get more puzzling than the elephantine larvacean calledBathochordaeus charon , a glittering blob that has eluded scientists since 1899 .
Only now have nautical life scientist from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute been able to substantiate the existence of these modest , diaphanous , floating blob .
They were originally discovered by German nautical biologist Carl Chun during an expedition from 1898 to 1899 . During this ocean trip , two examples of the species were ascertain in the South Atlantic and another two smaller specimen from the Indian Ocean . He named themBathochordaeus charon , after the character in Greek mythology called Charon , whose duty was to serve the god of the netherworld Hades by transporting souls of the dead across the River Styx .
However , few specimens have ever come up nigh to Chun ’s original descriptions , with all appear to partake in more similarity with the corroborate species of giant larvacean calledBathochordaeus stygius . There was so little in the way of hard evidence , it was even doubt whetherB. charonwas its own species . Perhaps Chun had pay off it wrong .
This raw written report , recently write in the journalMarine Biodiversity Records , used “ soft suction ” to catch specimen via remotely operate hero sandwich off the coast of Monterey Bay in California . On the team ’s travel between 2006 and 2013 , at least 15 of specimen were pull together or celebrate , most of which were the sustain species ofB.stygius .
However , one individual stuck out . The research worker expect out genetic and forcible analytic thinking on this particular blob and find it was indeed theB. charonspecies . Just as it was assumed over 100 years ago , Bathochordaeus charonwas dissimilar toBathochordaeus stygius .
" It felt like Chun had finally been vindicated after years of doubt , " Rob Sherlock , direct source from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who found the creature , toldLive Science .
queerly enough , it also made the researchers realize they had spottedB. charonon at least 12 other occasion and never realized .
B. charonsizes motley , but this special specimen was a large one at around 9 centimeters ( 3.5 inches ) long . They feature a strange mucous secretion internet , call off a house , around them that is used to get their dinner as they float .
As for the residual of their lifetime , such as how they breed and where exactly they live on , B. Charonremains as enigmatic as ever .
