Expedition crew spots an unusual sea creature

During a recent dive in the Gulf of Mexico, Nautilus Live expedition crew spotted something unusual. A closer look revealed that they had stumbled upon a giant siphonophore.

A siphonophore is a colony of organisms or zooids strung together that can grow to be as long as 130-150 feet. Each zooid within the whole siphonophore plays a specific role.

"Giant siphonophores, like all siphonophores, are a collection of highly specialized working parts. Some parts catch prey, others digest food, some parts reproduce and others direct the action by swimming," according to Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The Nautilus Live expedition crew is exploring the ocean studying biology, geology, archeology, and more.

Check out more photos from the crew's Instagram account below:

Watch their full expedition video here: