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Deep-sea mushroom organism mystifies researchers
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Sep 8, 2014
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Deep-sea mushroom organism mystifies researchers
The Dendrogamma has left many scientists scratching their heads. The organism does not appear to fit any category in the animal kingdom.

The Dendrogamma has left many scientists scratching their heads. The organism does not appear to fit any category in the animal kingdom.

From the deep-sea harbors off the coast of Australia comes a creature so rare that it can't be categorized. Scientists think it could be related to jellyfish or comb jellies, but aren't quite sure since it doesn't have the telltale features.

What it does have is a body shape that looks like a mushroom. The discovery was published in the journal PLOS One, where scientists admitted that they were having a hard time placing the organism. Jean Just from the University of Copenhagen is the paper's co-author and says it will take a few more years for researchers to figure out what it is.