Scientists baffled by unknown beast found 30,000ft deep – it can't be classified

Scientists baffled by unknown beast found 30,000ft deep – it can't be classifiedA bizarre animal filmed at the bottom of the Ryukyu Trench in the Philippine Sea has left scientists baffled - experts are currently unable to assign it to any known phylumCommentsNewsEthan Blackshaw Deputy Publishing Lead08:13, 18 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesScientists have been unable to classify this creature(Image: Jam Press)Scientists have been unable to classify a marine creature found lurking at the bottom of a deep sea trench.‌The ghostly white organism was found at the bottom of the Ryukyu Trench in the Philippine Sea along the eastern edge of Japan's Ryukyu Islands, where pressures are nearly 1,000 times greater than at sea level.‌It resembles a translucent sea slug or nudibranch, but possesses distinct, unidentifiable lobes. Similar to sea slugs, its body can be divided into two symmetrical halves. It was filmed at a record-breaking depth of 29,977ft (9,137m).‌A team led by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre at the University of Western Australia encountered the organism during a pioneering two-month expedition.View 3 ImagesThe organism was found at the bottom of the Ryukyu Trench(Image: Jam Press)READ MORE: UK sends five-word warning to Putin as 'secret' Russian military mission exposedREAD MORE: Donald Trump issues nuclear warning to Pope Leo and REFUSES to meet himUtilising the research vessel DSSV Pressure Drop, the team explored three of Japan’s deepest underwater canyons: the Japan, Izu-Ogasawara, and Ryukyu trenches. The creature was filmed twice using high-definition cameras on the crewed submersible Limiting Factor.‌Designated as Animalia incerta sedis, the slow-gliding specimen has baffled experts, who are currently unable to assign it to any known phylum. Scientists also discovered more than 1,500 stalked crinoids anchored to rock terraces and carnivorous sponges of the family Cladorhizidae, reports Creatorzine.com.Collaborating with the Tokyo Un...