Historic discovery: Conicet (National Institute of Statistics and Census) captured the mysterious "glass octopus" for the first time.

During a broadcast watched by thousands on YouTube, a team of scientists from CONICET (National Commission for the Study of Tropical Oceans) and the Schmidt Ocean Institute recorded for the first time in Argentine waters a specimen of the enigmatic glass octopus (Vitreledonella), a species with an almost completely transparent body that lives in the depths of the ocean.

The discovery occurred during the "Underwater Oasis of the Mar del Plata Canyon" mission, an unprecedented expedition in the country exploring depths of more than 3,900 meters using cutting-edge technology. The images, captured by the underwater robot ROV SuBastian, revealed the animal in all its splendor: its translucent body reveals only its eyes, optic nerve, and digestive tract, while the rest appears invisible underwater.

"This is a unique record for the Argentine Sea. These species are extremely difficult to find and even more difficult to film in their natural environment," the scientific team explained.

The glass octopus can grow up to 45 centimeters and is found in tropical and subtropical seas. However, until now, it had never been documented in the Argentine Sea . This not only enriches the region's biodiversity inventory but also provides key information on deep-sea ecosystems.

This discovery adds to other striking findings from the same expedition , such as the popular "big-ass star" and the friendly "sweet potato," creatures named by researchers and the public following the broadcast.

The expedition, which includes more than 30 specialists from different institutions, uses for the first time in the country a high-precision underwater robot that transmits in ultra-high definition and allows for the collection of samples with minimal impact on the environment.

The study area, located off Mar del Plata, is a meeting point between the Brazilian and Malvinas currents, making it an area of great biodiversity that has been little explored until now.

The project's live broadcasts not only brought science to the public, but also became a cultural phenomenon: social media was filled with memes and comments celebrating each discovery. Many users expressed their amazement and affection for the curious creatures, generating an unprecedented outreach phenomenon.

“It's like looking at another planet, but it's right here, in our sea,” wrote one viewer on social media.

The glass octopus 's record will be analyzed in depth by researchers to better understand its distribution and behavior in the South Atlantic. The "Underwater Oasis of the Mar del Plata Canyon" mission will continue to broadcast its dives live, promising to continue revealing the best-kept secrets of the seabed.