This newly discovered deep-sea siphonophore is about 45 cm (18 inches) long. The upper half of the colony consists of swimming bells that pulse like jellyfish to keep the colony moving through the water. The lower half carries hundreds of pale white stinging tentacles, which are used to capture small deep-sea fishes.

This microphotograph shows a tentacle of the newly discovered siphonophore (top), with the tentilla and red, glowing lures hanging down below.

This close view shows the newly discovered siphonophore's tentilla—tiny filaments that branch off the main tentacles. Each tentilla contains thousands of stinging cells. The red lures are on separate stalks, which move up and down, causing the lures to wiggle like swimming copepods (a typical food of small midwater fishes).

This close up view shows several of the red, glowing lures and tentilla on the newly discovered siphonophore. The inset at upper right shows a side view of a lure, which closely resembles a swimming copepod.