The internet has been obsessed and terrified by a ghastly and grotesque sea monster which recently washed up at the shores of Dana Point, California. The watery, pale, and bent carcasses of what one might guess were a monster from the abyss became the objects of fascination, fear, and even a certain humors desire after images of the find were passed on to Reddit. The pictures were so shocking visually, they were marked “not safe for work”, by moderators, thus attracting 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 on that day was anything but tranquil.
Open mouthed, needle-like fangs exposed and the body ghost white stretched over the moist sand, the beast seemed to have emerged from one of those horror movies. Some of the commenters compared it to horrifying xenomorphs from Alien, while others playedly stated that it was a piece of excess equipment from a deep-sea thriller. But the photos were so clear to begin with and the marine life enthusiasts and biologists online paid so much attention to the matter, the unfortunate creature quickly came to be identified as: a moray eel.
Tim Daly, the spokesperson of California Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed to SFGATE that the creature is believed to be a dead moray eel. However, he clarified that its peculiarly pale and grossly swollen look could be attributed to the process of decomposition, which sometimes changes the natural appearance of a sea creature completely. Noting the observations, Daly stated, “In life, moray eels have slick skin and, often, vivid colors. “In death, specifically following time passing while adrift in the ocean, [the eel] accumulates gases, the skin peels away and it becomes ghost-like and alien”.
Southern California’s coastal waters are not exotic ground for Moray eel. They usually live in rocky reefs and crevices in shallow ocean areas, waiting for prey such as fish or crustacean to fall victim. They are not venomous, nor do they have a propensity to be aggressive unless provoked, yet, they give a tough appearance. They however do have two rows of razor teeth and strong jaws which can inflict a painful bite.
Following the spread of the disturbing images on Reddit, the first reactions by the community varied from horror to awe. But the joke did not take too long before landing; driven by perhaps the most infamous Dean Martin ditty “That’s Amore.” “When the jaws open wide, and there’s more jaws inside, that’s a moray…” one wrote, riffing off the lyrics like true internet rhymers. Another chimed in: “Go back tonight to confirm. If the moon strikes its eyes like a huge pizza pie, that is 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.
Although the Reddit lewdness diluted it, the incident was a reminder of just how alien marine life can feel when its natural habitat is removed. The process of decomposition, raised pressure, or an exposure to air can turn even the good looking creature into monsters. To many who read the post, it was also somber evidence of just how little we know as to what exists at the bottom of the sea.
However terrifying one may interpret it as a visitor from the depths, or if it is just nature progressing at its own speed, one can affirm without question that: this is no creature anyone would wish to meet during a dive or even a casual walk on the beach.
