Researchers capture stunning footage of spaghetti monster off Chile coast

Researchers recently captured remarkable footage of a unique marine creature known as the flying spaghetti monster, located nearly 2,200 feet below the ocean surface near the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. This footage was obtained using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from the research vessel Falkor, during an expedition aimed at exploring previously uncharted underwater mountains. The creature, Bathyphysa conifera, is characterized by its pink-tipped, sausage-like arms and numerous filamentous appendages, showcasing the rich biological diversity of the region. The expedition, part of a series conducted by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, has significantly contributed to marine biology by uncovering over 100 new species and enhancing the known biodiversity in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The flying spaghetti monster is a colonial organism composed of thousands of multicellular zooids, each performing specific functions such as reproduction and digestion. These creatures typically inhabit depths ranging from 3,300 to 9,900 feet and can grow several feet long. In addition to the spaghetti monster, researchers also documented the first live footage of a Promachoteuthis squid, previously only known from dead specimens, and captured videos of a newly identified Casper octopus. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing exploration in understanding the distribution of life forms in deep-sea environments. The research efforts have increased the number of known species in the area from 1,019 to over 1,300, underscoring the significance of these expeditions in mapping and studying marine biodiversity that has remained largely unexplored until now.