The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) regularly shows us amazing creatures from the deepest depths of the ocean. This one is Bathydevius caudactylus, a newly named species that they've been studying for 24 years. Until recently, they called it the "mystery mollusk" because they didn't know exactly what kind of creature it is. It has a transparent hood like a jellyfish, tentacles like a squid, and a foot like a sea snail. Yet it acts like none of those other types of animals, and lives in the bathypelagic zone, 1,000 to 4,000 meters (3,300 to 13,100 feet) under the surface, where sunshine cannot reach. Yes, Bathydevius caudactylus is bioluminescent, but at this depth, that doesn't indicate what other species it may be related to. There have been more than 150 sightings in those years, and finally a specimen was brought up to study and underwent a DNA analysis. Reach more about the new species at MBARI's website. -via TYWKIWDBI
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