An
elusive deep-sea giant has been filmed with its prey for the first
time. It turns out it eats jellyfish and other gelatinous animals.
The octopus, Haliphron atlanticus, was filmed swimming
docked on top of a medusa jellyfish, with its beak devouring its
innards, while the medusa’s sticky tentacles were still hanging out of
its mouth. The researchers think it might even be using the jellyfish
tentacles as a handy feeding implement.
Little is known about H. atlanticus, and the researchers who
filmed it using remotely operated vehicles have only seen it three
times in as many decades. Most other octopuses eat more substantial prey
such as fish and crustaceans, so it is a surprise to see this large
species eating jellyfish…
DEEP WORLD SEA 