An appallingly horrific looking sea creature that recently washed ashore in Dana Point, California has shocked the world with its ghastliness and grotesqueness. The massive corpse with a pale and twisted appearance of one of those monsters of the abyss forced the waves of amazement, horror, and even some humor after the pictures of the findings was posted on Reddit. The photos were so jaw-droppingly disturbing that moderators identified them as “not safe for work,” engineering morbid curiosity from thousands of users.
When a beachgoer discovered the dead form on the beaches of Dana Point, a beautiful beach town in the south of California famous for its cliffs, marine life, and peaceful coast, the sinister tale began to unfold. What they discovered that day was far from tranquil.
With its open jaw, needle teeth bare, and ghost white body strewn across the soggy sand, the beast appeared to have emerged from a horror movie. Others compared it to the horrible xenomorphs from Alien, whereas the others made comments about it being a leftover prop from a deep sea thriller. But through the clarity of the photos and the interest of marine life enthusiasts and biologists in the Internet, the horrid creature was promptly identified: a moray eel.
According to Tim Daly, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed by SFGATE, the creature is considered a dead moray eel. However, he explained that its unusually pale and bloated appearance was probably a result of the process of decomposition that destroys the natural appearance of a sea creature and makes it look extremely different. “Moray eels literally have the skin of their lives – slick and often brightly colored,” Daly remarked. “In death, especially after you’ve spent time floating in the ocean, gases build up, the skin dries, and falls off, and the eel can take on a ghostly, alien appearance. ”
Moray eels are not uncommon off the coastal waters of Southern California. They usually live in rocky reefs and crevices in shallow ocean areas, waiting for prey such as fish or crustacean to fall victim. Although they have a frightening look they are not venomous and they do not attack unless provoked. However, they do have two rows of razor sharp teeth and strong jaws capable of delivering a painful bite.
Ranging from horror to awe, the initial reaction to the frightening images on Reddit varied. But before too long, the wryness set in – led by a nod to the classic Dean Martin song: “That’s Amore” (“When the jaws open wide, and there’s more jaws inside, that’s a moray…” quipped one user – Internet style of course). Another chimed in: “Go back tonight to confirm. If the moon strikes its eyes like a big pizza pie, that’s a moray.
The thread was a clinic of macabre comedy; it was equal parts fascination and fright, with a touch of light-hearted humor for users to make sense of the bizarre discovery.
Even if the Reddit jokes helped to mitigate the shock of the event, the reality of the encounter was a harsh reminder of what alien marine life can look like out of its natural surroundings. Decomposition, pressure differences and air exposure may turn even friendly animals into monsters. To many who viewed the post, it was also a chilling testimony of how little we really know of what lies under the ocean.
Whether viewed as a fearful visitor out of the depths, or merely nature taking its due, it may be said with certainty that: This is not a creature that anyone would wish to locate on a dive, or even a casual beach walk.
