What crucial element is missing for the 1932 Bathysphaera sighting to gain formal taxonomic classification?

A physical specimen for preservation or genetic testing

Despite the historic nature of the 1932 observation involving the *Bathysphaera*, its status remains hypothetical because of the limitations of the technology used and the nature of the encounter. Because the sighting was brief and through a thick porthole, scientists cannot confirm exact species identity without physical proof. In modern deep-sea biology, formal cataloging relies heavily on obtaining specimens through trawling or ROV sampling to allow for description and genetic testing. The near-total lack of any subsequent confirmation or the ability to recover the creature seen in 1932 means that even if the size estimate is accurate, its placement within the scientific taxonomy cannot be formally established.