Deep under the frigid waters of the White Sea, a marine biologist recently captured on camera one of the rarest creatures on Earth.
During an expedition, Alexander Semenov – a member of the White Sea Biological Station of Moscow State University – encountered a sea butterfly (Clione limacina), also known as “sea angel.”
Semenov and his diving team are exploring the depths of the oceans to discover the strangest and most fascinating species that inhabit this dark world.
The expeditions are all part of a project called Aquatilis, which aims to provide valuable information about unexplored parts of the world and, of course, the species that live there.
While exploring the White Sea waters, Semenov and his team came across a very elusive inhabitant, the sea angel. Zooplankton mollusks are famous for their vibrant colors and very unique shapes.
Thos’ fascinating creatures often live more than 1600 feet below the waves, thus making them almost undetectable. But fortunately, this team of divers managed to capture these rare creatures on camera.
Sea angels live in the frigid waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans and feed on sea butterflies or Limacina helicina. When they reach adulthood, they can grow to 1.5-1.6 inches long.
“This miniature creature is an incredibly graceful swimmer,” Semenov told National Geographic. “Watching it is a complete pleasure. They seem to float in the air, slowly flapping their wings.”
Watch this rare creature in the video below:
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