Bizarre sea creature stares down scientists while inflating its mouth like a balloon
Well this is one of the strangest things we’ve seen in a while.
Yeah, we know that’s a big call to make, but it’s pretty bloody bizarre.
It comes to you, as does most weird displays of nature, from the depths of the ocean.
What you’re about to look at here is a gulper eel, opening up its big, big mouth somewhere near the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, an incredible Hawaiian reef.
The vision was posted to the EVNautilus YouTube channel, chalking up more than 1.6 million views since last week and appearing on sites such as IFL Science.
MORE: Stabbing victim had no idea he had a knife stuck in his head
It was recorded by Ocean Exploration Trust scientists aboard the exploration vessel Nautilus, which is currently on a research mission near Hawaii.
The scientists are sharing vision from their dives, commentating the footage as they go.
And their commentary is absolutely on point in this video, perfectly articulating the what-in-the-heckness of the eel.
MORE: Two-headed snake is probably fighting amongst itself
Take a second to watch the clip, then maybe play it again to try and get your head around just how an eel can open its mouth like that.
“Its pouch-like mouth can inflate in an instant, scooping up much larger prey just like a pelican--and giving it that muppet-like look,” experts explained in the video description.
Yeah, that’s one big, big mouth.
And in case that wasn’t weird enough for you, please enjoy this video of a scallop swimming:
