CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN'

Mysterious sea monster thought to have been extinct for more than 100 years found floating off coast of California

The Bathochordaeus Charon was last seen a century ago when it was named after mythological Greek boatman

Danny Collins

Published: 14:47, 6 Dec 2016
Updated: 15:17, 6 Dec 2016

SCIENTISTS have been left dumbfounded after finding a mysterious sea creature not seen for more than 100 years.

Bathochordaeus Charon was found floating off the coast of California.

A mysterious sea monster called the Bathochordaeus Charon has been discovered by shocked scientists — A mysterious sea monster called the Bathochordaeus Charon has been discovered by shocked scientistsCredit: MBARI

The strange creature had not been seen by scientists for more than 100 years when it was stumbled upon off the California coast — The strange creature had not been seen by scientists for more than 100 years when it was stumbled upon off the California coastCredit: MBARI

The metre-wide jellyfish had not been seen since the late 19th Century - leading scientists to think it was extinct.

But researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute stumbled across the beast recently.

The bizarre invertebrate was named after Charon - a mythical Greek boatman who took people from the world of the living to the world of the dead.

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Scientist Rob Sherlock said: "The animal was alive, in fantastic shape.

"We preserved it right away.

"We had no idea, until we looked more closely at the specimen, what we we had actually found.

"The species was first described over a hundred years ago."

The mysterious sea blob was named after Charon, the boatman who took people between the world of the living and the world of the dead in Greek mythology — The mysterious sea blob was named after Charon, the boatman who took people between the world of the living and the world of the dead in Greek mythologyCredit: MBARI

The creature can grow up to one-metre wide when fully grown — The creature can grow up to one-metre wide when fully grownCredit: MBARI

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