Scientists exploring the deep sea off the coast of Australia have discovered up to 30 new underwater species — including this string-like creature known as a siphonophore, which might be the longest animal ever discovered. Measuring 46 metres — almost twice the average length of a blue whale — it is the largest specimen of the giant siphonophore Apolemia ever recorded. Although they look, behave and move around like individual organisms, siphonophores are actually floating colonies made up of tiny multicellular organisms called zooids that are attached to one another and cannot survive independently.
See more of the month’s sharpest science shots, selected by Nature’s photo team. (ROV SuBastian/SOI)
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