Rare Glass Jellyfish Baby Filmed in Monterey Bay Canyon

Scientists aboard a research vessel have captured rare footage of a juvenile glass squid swimming in the deep submarine canyon off the coast of California. The nearly transparent creature was filmed approximately 1558 feet underwater, according to recent posts from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).

The video, which has been shared widely on social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook, shows the small squid drifting alone in what is described as the ocean’s “twilight zone.” MBARI biologists filmed the squid during a scientific cruise aboard the research vessel, observing it near the canyon wall, located roughly 160 miles offshore from the Semidi Islands.

Dr. María Emilia Bravo, from the Faculty of Marine Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, led the team that documented the squid. Distinguishing juvenile glass squids can be challenging, MBARI noted in a Facebook post, but the sighting provides a valuable glimpse into the life cycle of these deep-sea animals.

The Monterey Bay submarine canyon is known for its unique biodiversity and is a frequent site for deep-sea exploration. The canyon’s depths provide a habitat for a variety of species adapted to life in low-light conditions. The recent footage adds to the growing body of knowledge about the creatures inhabiting this underwater environment.