Bizarre translucent 'Jell-O fish' pulled up from icy depths in Alaska

A group of scientists studying the deep sea near Alaska were surprised to see a strange fish with a cup on it's belly.

The snailfish (Crystallichthys cyclospilus) is an animal that can live more than 2,723 feet below the ocean's surface. The squishy weird was discovered by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration while they were on the coast of the Aleutian Islands. On June 19 Sarah Friedman shared a photo of the snailfish on her social media accounts.

Friedman said in an email that the fish's body felt like a lump of jello. She said that it is thought to be an adaptation to maintain neutral buoyancy and efficiently swim.

The team wanted people to see the fish for themselves, so they showed it online. The average person won't see this species because they live in relatively remote locations. She said that the researchers found four or five different specimen of the fish during the trip.

There is fish trapped inside a translucent jellyfish that washed up on a UK beach.

Blotched snailfish have bodies that are completely transparent, apart from their eyes, stomachs, and dark spots on their skin. They are able to stay hidden from predatory animals. Many animals that live in the deep ocean are translucent. They are able to blend in with the dark background in a habitat with few structures to hide behind.

Blotched snailfish have modified fins on their bellies that form a cup. The ability to attach to rocks and corals on the ocean floor allows them to avoid swimming in strong currents.

Little is known about the snailfish in the deep ocean. "Snailfish are an incredibly enigmatic and diverse group of fishes, with species that vary from tidepools to the deepest trenches of the ocean," Friedman said. It's not known much about the ecology of the deeper snailfish species. There are more than 400 snailfish in the world.

A giant sea spider, an anglerfish with massive pointed teeth, and a barreleye fish are just a few of the curiosities found by the team.

The goal is not to find rare species. The surveys are done to assess the health of the environment. Friedman said that research is essential to sustainable management of fish and crab species.

It was originally published on Live Science