2 min read Deep Sea Explorers Stumble Upon A Creature They Can Hardly Believe Is Real

While there's no shortage of weird and wacky ideas in science fiction about what creatures from other planets might look like, few are quite as remarkable as those that can actually be found right here on Earth.

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Recently, a team from the Nautilus Live expedition piloting a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) happened upon one of the most fascinating-looking lifeforms in the world -- this rare, purple siphonophore roving through the ocean's depths. Even the experienced deep sea explorers, well-acquainted with the marine animals, had a hard time accepting that what they were seeing was really real.

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"Wow. Okay, that's awesome," says one ROV operator. "I can't believe that's a living thing."