'Headless chicken monster' is caught on film for the first time – but can you tell what it is?

A rare deep-sea creature dubbed the 'headless chicken monster' has been filmed for the first time by Australian researchers.

The elusive Enypniastes eximia sea cucumber, which is usually only found in the Gulf of Mexico, was spotted in the Southern Ocean in the East Antarctic using camera technology developed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).

'Some of the footage we are getting breath from the world,' said AAD Program Leader Dr. Dirk Welsford said.

The equipment used to house the camera had to be able to withstand extreme conditions, given that it would be exposed to pitch-black, high pressure waters.

'The housing that protects the camera is designed to attach to the long-distance toothfish in the Southern Ocean, so it needs to be extremely sustainable,' Dr Welsford said.

'We needed something that could be thrown into the water for long periods of time,' he added.

The data collected from the footage will be presented at an annual commission for the conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources meeting in Hobart, Tasmania on Monday.

Australian commissioner Gillian Slocum will push for a new East Antarctic Marine Protected Area.

'The Southern Ocean is home to an abundant abundance and variety of marine life, including commercially sought-after species,' the harvesting of which must be carefully managed for future generations, 'Ms Slocum said.

The 10-day meeting will also include proposals on how to respond to climate change.