Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@Preetalina
Hurricane Harvey washed away homes, cars, and trees in Texas, but no one expected the hurricane to wash up a gnarly never-before-seen sea monster on the beach.
Preeti Desai was walking along a beach in Texas City when she spotted the decaying sea creature. She took photos and posted them on Twitter to ask for help in identifying the fanged fish. She posted several photos with the caption: “Okay, biology twitter, what the heck is this?”
Her request was passed along to biologist and eel specialist Dr Kenneth Tighe, who believes the creature to be a fangtooth snake-eel. He said it could also be a garden or conger eel, because “all three of these species occur off Texas and have large fang-like teeth”.
Okay, biology twitter, what the heck is this?? Found on a beach in Texas City, TX. #wildlifeid pic.twitter.com/9IUuuL65qh
— Preeti Desai🌿 (@preetalina) September 6, 2017
The fangtooth snake-eel, also known as a “tusky” eel, is usually found in waters between 30 and 90 metres deep in the western Atlantic ocean. It is thought that the deep sea creature most likely washed up because of the strong winds and flooding Hurricane Harvey brought to Texas.