A pretty pink color offers clever camouflage for the abyssal comb jelly

The abyssal comb jelly (Beroe abyssicola) patrols the midnight zone searching for its favorite food—other comb jellies. But this predator prowls in dark depths, where most animals can produce bioluminescence. A glowing gut would invite the attention of other predators. The crimson color of this comb jelly’s stomach absorbs the light produced by bioluminescent prey. MBARI researchers have learned that gelatinous animals like Beroe have a large impact on deep-sea food webs. Our archive of nearly 28,000 hours of deep-sea video contains hundreds of observations of deep-sea animals feeding. Examining these observations in detail revealed that jellies, comb jellies, and siphonophores are important as both predators and prey in the ocean’s midnight zone. Learn more in our Creature feature: Common name: abyssal comb jelly Scientific name: Beroe abyssicola Reported depth range: surface to 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) Size: 7