'Blue Monster' Discovered in the Caribbean Seabed... "A New Species Never Reported to Academia"

Captured During US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Expedition
Named 'Blue Goo' Due to Its Blue Body

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered a blue strange creature near Santa Cruz Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands while exploring at the end of last month. They named it "Bluegoo," meaning blue sticky. Photo by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] A mysterious blue creature has been discovered in the Caribbean seabed, drawing attention.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) captured this organism last month while exploring near Santa Cruz Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) camera. Some netizens watching the live broadcast expressed fascination and curiosity about the creature.

Found at a depth of 400 to 600 meters, this creature was stuck to the seabed without any movement. Initially, it appeared as a round cluster, but shortly after, it sagged onto the seabed like jelly, attracting attention.

The NOAA research team named the creature "Blue Goo" due to its sticky-looking blue body. A team member explained, "It could be coral or a sponge, but it might also be a tunicate. All we can say is that it’s not a rock. We don’t know what it is."

They added, "It is a new species never reported in academic circles." According to biology experts, 95% of marine life worldwide, including deep-sea creatures, remains unidentified.

According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMs) and NOAA, there are about 2,000 species of soft coral, 8,500 species of sponges, and 3,000 species of tunicates.

In response, the U.S. science media Live Science stated, "Marine organisms like 'Blue Goo' that cannot be identified as species remain a mystery until actual specimens are collected."

The NOAA research team evaluated the mysterious "Blue Goo" as a perfect example showing why it is enjoyable and important for both viewers and scientists.

Meanwhile, NOAA has been exploring the North Atlantic region for four months as part of the "Voyage to the Ridge 2022" series.