NASA scientists were very surprised at the discovery of a shrimp-like creature living at deep beneath an Antarctic ice sheet.

Before the discovery, they had speculated nothing but microbes could live in those conditions. To their surprise, they also found a tentacle they believe came from a foot-long jellyfish.

During research in late November 2009, a group of NASA scientists found the three-inch long Lyssianasid amphipod beneath the Ross Ice Shelf, about 12.5 miles away from the open water. The pink-orange creature swam near the scientist's camera and stood on its cable. It was recorded in 2-minute video posted on NASA's website.

NASA scientist Robert Bindschadler will present the initial findings and a video at an American Geophysical Union meeting on Wednesday.

The new discovery may raise new questions about life in harsh environments such as other hostile locations on earth and in places like Europa, a frozen moon of Jupiter, the Associated Press reports.

NASA