In Photos: Gigantic Alien-Like Sea Creature Known As One Of World’s Largest Spotted In Maltese Waters
The Maltese Islands have been visited by a monster of the deep… and this one’s as large as they get.
In photos shared on social media yesterday, prominent marine biologist Alan Deidun showed off the “alien from outer space”, which is actually the giant siphonophore (Praya dubia), which is actually considered one of the largest living creatures on the planet. In fact, certain specimen can even reach lengths which exceed those of a blue whale.
Of course, these creatures’ sheer size is achieved a little differently, with their thickness not even exceeded that of a broomstick… but we don’t know about you, it would still freak us out a little to run into one of these guys. And wouldn’t you know it, someone in Malta did just that, with diver Leli Scerri photographing the underwater giant in Malta at a depth of around 25 metres.
“Praya dubia is an active swimmer that attracts its prey with bright blue bioluminescent light,” Deidun explained. ‘”When it finds itself in a region abundant with food, it holds its position and deploys a curtain of tentacles covered with nematocysts which produce a powerful, toxic sting that can paralyse or kill prey that happen to bump into it. Praya dubia’s diet includes gelatinous sea life, small crustaceans, and possibly small fish and fish larvae”.
With no known predators, the sea giant has a dome-like float filled with gas which gives it buoyancy, helping it remain at its preferred depth. And it seems like, for one reason or another, Malta’s not-so abysmal waters are what this specific specimen preferred.
Have you ever seen one of these alien-looking giants? Tag someone who’d love to… and someone who probably needs to check this out before summer kicks off!
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