Scientists Get Big Scare Watching Sea Snail Inching Towards Fish

Three scientist deep underwater expedition were surprised while observing an Atlantic Midshipman lurking in a hole on the bottom of the ocean.

The video, filmed at ~1640 feet (500 meters), is aimed at a benthic fish (Atlantic Midshipman, Porichthys plectrodon) dwelling in a burrow. A snail is crawling ever closer to the burrow.

The scientists are watching thinking the unassuming snail might get into trouble, but they had know way of knowing just how much.

The Atlantic Midshipman suddenly snatches a large midwater fish (barracudina in the family Paralepididae), startling the scientists. The snail was an innocent (and unfortunate) bystander to the whole thing as well.

The encounter was captured by NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research during a diving excursion 25 miles from Pea Island in North Carolina.

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