While exploring the seafloor off the coast of Chile, researchers stumbled upon a captivating sight — a creature nicknamed the “flying spaghetti monster.” This carnivorous, colonial organism boasts an otherworldly appearance, with countless milky-white arms that create a mesmerizing display as it drifts through the deep ocean.
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Behold the ‘Spaghetti Monster’: A Pink-Tipped Sausage-Legged Marvel Spotted Near Nazca Ridge
New footage has revealed a stunning deep-sea spectacle: a “flying spaghetti monster” gracefully waving its countless arms nearly 2,200 feet (665 meters) below the surface. This remarkable sighting took place near an underwater mountain off the coast of Chile, providing a rare glimpse of this enigmatic creature in its natural habitat.
The footage was captured by scientists aboard the research vessel Falkor (too) using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). This cutting-edge technology allowed researchers to explore a previously uncharted seamount on the Nazca Ridge, a vast underwater mountain chain in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The up-close video showcases the spaghetti monster, scientifically known as Bathyphysa conifera, in all its glory, with its pink-tipped, sausage-like arms and filamentous appendages creating an otherworldly display.
According to Alex David Rogers, a marine biologist and science director at Ocean Census,, a global initiative to accelerate the discovery of marine species, the seamounts of the Southeastern Pacific are teeming with extraordinary biodiversity. “The seamounts of the Southeastern Pacific host remarkable biological diversity,” Rogers noted in a statement, highlighting the significance of these deep-sea ecosystems.
The researchers spotted this fascinating organism approximately 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) off the coast of Chile, near a towering seamount that rises 10,200 feet (3,109 meters) above the seafloor. These “flying spaghetti monsters” are colonial organisms composed of thousands of multicellular units called zooids. Each zooid performs a specialized function, such as reproduction or digestion, making the colony a marvel of cooperative living. As carnivorous creatures, they inhabit depths ranging from 3,300 to 9,900 feet (1,000 to 3,000 meters) and can grow to impressive lengths.
The expedition, spearheaded by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, is the third of its kind this year to explore the underwater mountain ranges off the coast of Chile. Earlier expeditions in January and February uncovered over 100 new species and an enormous seamount along the Nazca Ridge and the neighboring Salas y Gómez Ridge, underscoring the incredible biodiversity hidden in the deep ocean. This latest discovery continues to shine a spotlight on the mysteries of our planet’s least-explored frontier
Researchers mapped a previously unexplored seamount off the coast of Chile. (Image credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute)
The three groundbreaking expeditions have dramatically expanded our knowledge of the southeastern Pacific Ocean’s biodiversity. According to the researchers, the number of known species in this region has risen from 1,019 in 2023 to over 1,300 today. This substantial increase underscores the importance of these deep-sea explorations in uncovering the hidden wonders of our planet.
“This research will significantly enhance our understanding of the distribution of remarkable lifeforms on these underwater mountains, including several that have never before been mapped or seen by human eyes,” said Alex David Rogers, marine biologist and science director at Ocean Census, in a statement.
Among the many discoveries during the most recent dive, researchers captured the first-ever footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid. Previously, scientists had only studied this small, weak-muscled squid from dead specimens, making this live sighting a groundbreaking moment. The team also documented a Casper octopus — a ghostly pale creature so new to science that it has yet to be officially named. These remarkable findings highlight the incredible biodiversity thriving in the deep, much of which remains unexplored.
The expeditions not only shed light on the extraordinary creatures inhabiting the depths but also offer valuable insights into the ecosystems of underwater mountain ranges, or seamounts. These seamounts are hotspots for marine life, providing habitats for a wide array of species, many of which are endemic to these regions. Mapping and studying these habitats is critical for understanding the ocean’s role in supporting global biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance.
This surge in discoveries emphasizes the need for continued exploration and conservation of these fragile ecosystems. As researchers unveil more about the mysteries of the deep, they contribute to a growing body of knowledge that could inform sustainable ocean management and inspire future generations to protect these awe-inspiring environments