Secretive giant octopus recorded by Monterey researchers

This story originally appeared on KSBW.com.

MONTEREY, Calif. — For Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute scientists searching the deep sea, even giant animals are hard to find in the ocean's vast, dark, mysterious depths.

"The open ocean is the largest habitable space for life on Earth. Within this realm, called the pelagic zone, biodiversity and biomass are high—drifting animals, squids, and fishes abound, some of which can reach large sizes in the unconstrained environment," Kelly Lance of MBARI wrote.

One of those giant, secretive deep sea creatures is the Haliphron atlanticus, an octopus that grows to 12 feet long and weighs up to 165 pounds. Its seven arms have cape-like webbing, giving the pearly-white octopus a ghostly appearance.

MBARI researchers have only been able to find this species three times in the past 27 years.

A recent sighting of a Haliphron atlanticus off the Hawaiian islands revealed that the octopus was feasting on a jellyfish.

A ventral view of Haliphron atlanticus holding a Phacellophora camtschatica (egg-yolk jellyfish). In the center of the bell of the jellyfish, the octopus’ beak is visible as the dark triangular shape. A ventral view of Haliphron atlanticus holding a Phacellophora camtschatica (egg-yolk jellyfish). In the center of the bell of the jellyfish, the octopus’ beak is visible as the dark triangular shape. Photo: MBARI Photo: MBARI Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Secretive giant octopus recorded by Monterey researchers 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

"MBARI scientists and their collaborators have the advantage of finding elusive deep-sea species like Haliphron with the use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). On a recent cruise, (Steve) Haddock's team happened upon a Haliphron and as they followed it, they were surprised when it spread its arms to reveal a large jellyfish cradled in its grasp," Lance wrote.

"Since female Haliphron atlanticus are so large, they are able to completely grasp and contain a large jelly within their webbed arms and still swim," Lance wrote. "Researchers now know that Haliphron, a food resource for top predators such as sperm whales, blue sharks, and swordfish, distributes energy to its predators along a path that incorporates gelatinous species."

This story originally appeared on KSBW.com.