Reincarnated Posted November 2, 2006 #1 Share Posted November 2, 2006 What in the world? A mysterious gelatinous ball has puzzled and fascinated researchers after undersea photographer Rudolf Svensen spotted it while diving at the mouth of the Matre fjord in Hordaland, western Norway. This photograph sparked intense curiosity and fascination amongst Norwegian scientists. On Oct. 1 Rudolf and his brother Erling were diving when he spotted the unusual object. "It was 50-70 centimeters (19.5-27.5 inches) in diameter and looked like a huge beach ball. It was transparent but had a kind of thick, red cord in the middle. It was a bit science-fiction," Svensen told newspaper Bergens Tidende's web site. The Svensens contacted associate professor Torleiv Brattegard at the University of Bergen, and other experts were notified to try and solve the mystery. Brattegard was convinced the object was organic, and possibly a species unknown to Norway. "It might be an animal, the remains of algae, something which has been alive, or a mysterious accumulation of microorganisms," were some of Brattegard's initial theories. On Friday Brattegard told NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) that the mystery may have been solved. Colleague Arne Fjellheim, who works with Stavanger Museum, tipped off Brattegard that the organism resembled a photograph from New Zealand that he had seen. A zoology professor and squid expert in New Zealand corroborated by email - the peculiar gelatinous ball was a large squid egg sack. "The gelatinous lump contains several fertilized eggs. This is not at all a common sight, because squids are some of the most inaccessible animals known," Fjellheim told iBergen.no. Fjellheim told Aftenposten.no that squid are found in such numbers along the Norwegian coast that they are a commercial catch, and used mostly as bait. Despite this, extremely little is known about their biology. Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UconnHusky Posted November 2, 2006 #2 Share Posted November 2, 2006 new species of jellyfish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedOfDark Posted November 4, 2006 #3 Share Posted November 4, 2006 new species of jellyfish? Did you read the article? @Reincarnated: Id like to send this to someone, and Id like to give them just the article, not some random UM forum link. Can you give me a link pretty plz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crouton Posted November 4, 2006 #4 Share Posted November 4, 2006 SpeedofDark, here is the link. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedOfDark Posted November 5, 2006 #5 Share Posted November 5, 2006 SpeedofDark, here is the link. Enjoy! Thanksies! This person I know lives in norway, so I want to send it to scare them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Umbarger Posted November 7, 2006 #6 Share Posted November 7, 2006 I still say that it looks like a jellyfish of some kind. Even if it's not, that's what it looks like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevaDevil Posted November 7, 2006 #7 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Thanksies! This person I know lives in norway, so I want to send it to scare them! SoD, please don't upset Morten too much As for what it is... who knows, the sea has many mysteries for us land-dwelling apes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Carnivore Posted November 7, 2006 #8 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Looks like an oversized comb jelly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snuffypuffer Posted November 7, 2006 #9 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Squid eggs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortal Norway Posted November 12, 2006 #10 Share Posted November 12, 2006 ... (will never swim in the fjords again) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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