Strange video of underwater "Alien" creature

[CompSciGuy]

I came across a video showing a sea creature, possibly a jellyfish or squid, undergoing a strange transformation. Initially, I assumed the video was fake, but it's been said that's it a legit video recorded from an (ROV) in the depths of the Indian Ocean, off the East coast of Africa.

The original video was uploaded on YouTube with the name CaptainJRD. Original Video

The squid or jelly fish, likely a black comb jelly fish, starts to look CGI-like, particularly around the 1:10 to 1:11 mark where the creature seems to vanish unnaturally. I performed a reverse image search and found a few articles claiming its authenticity, but the sources are obscure and lack solid references (e.g., ladbible.com, trendymen.ru, themotherofallnerds.com). The explanation given is that the creature was sucked into a propeller, which allegedly caused the creatures odd disappearance, but I'm still skeptical.

It appears that the creature in the video is a real, however it looks like it has been composited into this footage. The way the creature moves doesn't quite seem to interact naturally with the surrounding water. The shape it takes at the start of the video (see the image below) is also quite bizarre, almost geometric, and inconsistent with anything I've seen in the natural world.

Some of the obscure articles I've found are the following:

https://www.ladbible.com/news/alien-sea-creature-comb-jelly-144622-20230125

https://themotherofallnerds.com/a-f...-cameras-and-freaks-out-internet-users-video/

https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/comb-jelly-transformation-video-2662296595

While Reddit users seem to verify it, I haven't found any credible sources confirming the video's origin. It seems off to me, especially with how the creature behaves.

Reddit Links to people claiming it's a legit video


Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/comments/ipk21n/shape_shifting_creature_found_in_the_bottom_of/?sort=controversial



Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/deepseacreatures/comments/rj297i/has_anyone_ever_seen_more_black_comb_jellyfishs/


I'd appreciate any expert analysis on whether this video seems like it's been digitally altered or if there's something off with this video.

UPDATE: Another video from the same uploader appears to show an unrendered CGI monster headless chicken sea cucumber that hasn't been completed or rendered completely. It appears this uploader CaptainJRD is a VFX hoaxer. The fact they are an unverified YouTuber showing reported ROV dives without any verification seems suspect.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPUT9rB6-bU

 

[Mick West]

There's a similar-looking comb jelly here:


Source: https://youtu.be/-rYNTFOeBVI?t=174

And the "unrendered" creature is also a real thing, so it could be this under UV light.

Source: https://youtu.be/85rCfNreQqs

I don't really see any conclusive evidence the videos are fake.

 

[Ravi]

The shape it takes at the start of the video (see the image below) is also quite bizarre, almost geometric, and inconsistent with anything I've seen in the natural world.

Not sure why this would look inconsistent. Also, geometry also happens in nature. Like above, I think they are real animals, just not like we humans are "used too". Likely there are even more undiscovered weird looking creatures in the depth of oceans.

 

[jarlrmai]

The overlay in the OP videos matches the official videos from an Oceaneering millennium ROV.


Source: https://youtu.be/CoOwT0X5dpo?t=27

 

[Calter]

The way the creature moves doesn't quite seem to interact naturally with the surrounding water.

Could you point to what part you feel doesn't seem natural?

While it is certainly an odd looking Jellyfish, I'm surprised that the parts that you are skeptical about are the movement and eventual shredding, since to me those are the parts that look the most real (having the knowledge that it's a jellyfish)

 

[JMartJr]

Looks like what ctenophores (comb jellies) look like... ar least like the ones that in fact look like that, there are a number of body plans! Looks to me like the maneuvering thruster on the sub unfortunately hits him at the end. I'm on my phone at the moment, when I get home I think I still have some pics showing that "Batman logo" body plan on my computer...

 

[John J.]

Yep, I agree that the footage is probably authentic. It doesn't show anything that wouldn't be compatible with videos of comb jellies as far as I know (though I'm no expert!)

They are extraordinary.

In an article from BBC's Newsround (news coverage aimed at children) there's this article, 22 May 2023, claiming comb jellies are the oldest existing species of animals. (I'm guessing the claim that a comb jelly is the most recent common ancestor of all animals might be contested; but again I'm no expert).

Scientists in America have discovered the oldest living creature on our planet.
Experts have confirmed that it is a jellyfish-like organism called a ctenophore - also known as a comb jelly.

They first emerged up to 700 million years ago - a long time before dinosaurs, which only appeared around 230 million years ago.
The study also found that ctenophores are the closest relatives of the first animals - and they can still be spotted in oceans and aquariums today.
...
A new study involving researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, has discovered that comb jellies have been around longer than sponges, which date back about 600 million years.
Daniel Rokhsar, from the University of California, explained that comb jellies are "the most recent common ancestor of all animals" and "probably lived 600 or 700 million years ago".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/65636660.amp

More about Ctenophora (comb jellies) on Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenophora
(which also mentions the debate about whether they are similar to the latest common ancestor of all animals),
and a nice photo of a pinky-violet one (looking a bit like a Star Wars A-wing fighter)

It was recently found two comb jellies can fuse together;
again BBC Newsround, 16 October 2024, https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cn038pz3119o,
I don't think the images used are showing anything to do with this process:

Scientists have found that injured comb jellyfish, or ctenophores, are able to fuse their bodies together and behave as one.
They merge their nervous systems, which coordinate how their bodies move, and their stomachs. This is a process that has never been seen before in another species.

This amazing trick was discovered when they saw an odd looking jellyfish in a tank that had two mouths - and two bottoms! Are you squidding me?
...
The study, published in the journal Current Biology, showed that when injured the jellyfish could fully join together in a matter of hours to help them survive.
When they were tested with a small poke - both the fused jellyfish appeared to respond, showing they were connected.

Also, when one of the jellyfish digested a piece of colourful fluorescent food, it also passed over to the other.

I think @CompSciGuy's OP, and this thread, make a useful example:
When something remarkable is observed or discovered, often supporting evidence from different but reliable sources follows soon after.
The physical existence of that thing is no longer in doubt, and it can be scientifically studied, and admired for what it is.
This doesn't (yet!) apply to alien spacecraft, ghosts/ poltergeists, cold fusion, ESP/"Psy", Chupacabra etc. etc.

 

[Mendel]

I think @CompSciGuy's OP, and this thread, make a useful example:
When something remarkable is observed or discovered, often supporting evidence from different but reliable sources follows soon after.
The physical existence of that thing is no longer in doubt, and it can be scientifically studied, and admired for what it is.

it wouldn't have been a problem at all if the video had had proper provenance; the first hurdle was:

I haven't found any credible sources confirming the video's origin

 

[JMartJr]

I think I still have some pics showing that "Batman logo" body plan on my computer...

Source: http://rhyannonkavanagh.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-warty-comb-jelly-mnemiopsis-leidyi.html

 

[john.phil]

Footage from a similar specimen in 2006, ~1400m depth (00:20 to 00:50). At 01:15, the thruster of the ROV pushes away another jellyfish but it seems to manage to stay in one piece:


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7b_U_fJvgA&t=20s

 

[yoshy]

The way the creature moves doesn't quite seem to interact naturally with the surrounding water.

Unfortunately, the creature got caught up in a current created by the USV. The end of the video is it getting torn apart by that current and dying. I'm not joking sadly.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Thank you for all the replies, I found this video that shows a similar bloody belly jellyfish with the exact same geometric shape, so my doubts have been dissuaded. Thanks for all your replies.


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZecJYKWksU

 

[CompSciGuy]

Footage from a similar specimen in 2006, ~1400m depth (00:20 to 00:50). At 01:15, the thruster of the ROV pushes away another jellyfish but it seems to manage to stay in one piece:


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7b_U_fJvgA&t=20s

Yea thanks that shows it pretty well, I also found this video that really highlights it making the "batwing" style shape.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZecJYKWksU

 

[CompSciGuy]

it wouldn't have been a problem at all if the video had had proper provenance; the first hurdle was:

Indeed

 

[Eburacum]

It seems that ctenophores can usually repair damaged tissues, because they are reasonably primitive organisms, capable of extreme reconfiguration. Ctenophores date back to the Precambrian era, and have lived alongside all the other, more complex organisms in our biosphere for more than half a gigayear. So the damage at the end of that clip may not have been fatal.

 

[JMartJr]

So the damage at the end of that clip may not have been fatal.

I feel slightly better.

 

[yoshy]

Yea thanks that shows it pretty well, I also found this video that really highlights it making the "batwing" style shape.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZecJYKWksU

If anybody is interested in similar videos and strange underwater life, Deepsea Oddities has a massive catalog of videos