### Identification Commonly known as the "Abyssal Beroe," this ctenophore is a master of deep-sea disguise. Measuring up to 15 centimeters, it lacks the long, trailing tentacles of its cousins. Instead, look for a translucent, sack-shaped body that ranges from a delicate rose to a deep, bruised plum or rust-red—a coloration that renders it invisible in the blue-filtered light of the depths. Its most striking feature is the eight longitudinal rows of "ctenes" (comb plates) that shimmer with iridescent, rainbow-like pulses as they beat. To distinguish it from the shallower *Beroe cucumis*, look for its darker pigmentation and more elongated, mitre-like silhouette.
### Habitat & Range True to its name, *Beroe abyssicola* is a denizen of the dark. It is primarily found in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones, often at depths between 200 and 2,000 meters. While it has a global distribution in cold, deep waters, it is most frequently documented by deep-sea submersibles in the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans.
### Behaviour Observers will notice this jelly swimming "mouth-first" through the water column. Unlike many jellies that drift passively, *Beroe* is an active, solitary hunter. It navigates using a statocyst (a gravity-sensing organ) at its aboral pole. When it encounters prey, it exhibits a sudden, muscular expansion of its cavernous gullet to engulf its target.
### Diet This species is a specialized carnivore, feeding almost exclusively on other ctenophores, such as the lobate *Bolinopsis*. It is essentially the "Great White" of the jelly world, using its wide, gated mouth to swallow prey nearly as large as itself whole.
### Fascinating Fact Inside its mouth, *Beroe abyssicola* possesses thousands of specialized "macro-cilia" that function like serrated teeth. These microscopic structures act as a biological zipper to seal the mouth shut after a meal or can be used to literally saw through the gelatinous bodies of their prey!