科学家们发现了一个可爱的怪物

科学家们发现了一个可爱的怪物

When they started to film, scientists on the exploration vessel Nautilus could barely contain themselves. Way out in the Pacific Ocean, over 750 metres deep (2,500 feet), their remotely operated vehicle had stumbled upon one of the spookiest creatures they'd ever seen.

当他们拍摄海底时，诺第留斯号探测船上的科学家们几乎无法控制自己。在太平洋深处750多米(2500英尺)，他们的遥控飞行器偶然发现了他们所见过的最可怕的生物之一。

At first, as they watched the dancing ghost-like entity, there were only questions: What is that? What are we looking at? What's that red structure inside? What is even going on there? What is it thinking? What are we thinking?

一开始，当他们看到这个像鬼一样跳舞的实体时，只有一个问题：那是什么?我们在看什么?里面的红色动物是什么?怎么回事?它在想什么?我们在想什么?

Even as they chattered excitedly, the creature changed shape, morphing in and out of recognition, shifting from a floating ghost to a silky scarf.

就在他们兴奋地叽叽喳喳的时候，这个生物的形状发生了变化，一会儿变成了一个漂浮的幽灵，一会儿又变成了一条丝质的围巾。

"I feel like it's expanded since we've been watching it," a voice pointed out.

一个人说:“从我们看到它以后，我感觉它大了。”

With a feverish curiosity, the team at last settled on an answer. The shape-shifter in front of them had to be a deep-sea jellyfish, likely from the genus Deepstaria, a species only seen a handful of times. And this one clearly had a passenger.

带着狂热的好奇心，研究小组终于找到了答案。它们眼前的变形者一定是一只深海水母，很可能是深星属的水母，这种水母只出现过几次。很明显这个水袋里有乘客。

An incredible new video, released by the Nautilus expedition, gives us a peek at one of the most mysterious deep-ocean creatures there is - and a glimpse at the bright red crustacean inside of it.

一段由诺第留斯号科考队发布的令人难以置信的新视频，让我们得以一窥最神秘的深海生物之一——以及它里面鲜红色的甲壳类动物。

Known as isopods, these red crustaceans are related to deep-sea pillbugs and they've been found in Deepstaria before. The exact relationship between these two creatures is currently unknown, but the isopod is thought to benefit by feeding on the actual jelly or the jellyfish's food. It's probably also a good place to hide from predators.

这些红色甲壳类动物被称为等足类动物，它们与深海珍珠贝有亲缘关系，以前在深海中也发现过。这两种动物之间的确切关系目前还不清楚，但等足类动物被认为是受益于以水母或水母的食物为食。它可能也是躲避捕食者的好地方。

On the other hand, very little is known about Deepstaria or how it copes with resident isopods. With so few examples to go by, it's unclear what these jellyfish eat, how they eat, how they reproduce, and even how deep in the ocean they can survive.

另一方面，人们对深海生物或其如何应对等足类动物知之甚少。由于可供参考的例子如此之少，目前还不清楚这些水母吃什么，它们如何进食，如何繁殖，甚至它们能在海洋深处生存多久。

Unlike other jellyfish, Deepstaria lack stinging tentacles. Instead, scientists think these creatures filter feed by opening and closing their bag-like bells to trap their prey. How they ultimately digest that prey or distribute it to the rest of their body, however, is still up for debate, although there are a few current theories.

与其他水母不同，深海水母没有带刺的触须。相反，科学家们认为，这些动物通过打开和关闭像铃铛一样的袋子来过滤食物，从而诱捕猎物。然而，它们最终如何消化猎物或将猎物分配给身体的其他部分，仍存在争议，尽管目前有一些理论。

"The geometric mesh pattern is an intricate network of canals that lead back to its stomach at the top of the bell," explains a caption from Nautilus.

诺第留斯号的一段文字解释道:“这个几何网格图案是一个错综复杂的运输网络，它通向钟形结构顶部的胃。”

"As the jelly can reach a large size when inflated, these channels help distribute nutrients across the entire expanse."

“当袋子撑开时可以达到很大的尺寸，这些通道有助于将营养物质分布到整个区域。”

When even the experts are left gobsmacked, you know you're looking at something pretty darn special.

当连专家都目瞪口呆的时候，你就知道你看到的是非常特别的东西。