A bizarre marine creature that washed ashore in Laguna Niguel on Saturday has left beachgoers baffled and sparked a viral frenzy online. While it may look like something from a horror movie, state wildlife officials believe this unsightly specimen is just a common fish—specifically, a moray eel.
The original poster on Reddit, who shared a photo of the eerie find, remarked, “It’s giving me nightmares.” Other commenters chimed in, likening the creature to an alien or even a plesiosaur, the legendary marine reptile that swam the oceans millions of years ago.
Though moray eels are generally not aggressive, they can become quite vicious if provoked. Britannica explains that these eels possess two sets of jaws with backward-facing teeth, which makes it hard for their prey to escape once caught. Interestingly, moray eels also have a surprising place in history, particularly in ancient Rome, where they were once considered a delicacy.
The Muraena helena, or Mediterranean moray, was prized and harvested from coastal ponds. According to various academic sources, these eels were even doted upon by notable Romans. Julius Caesar reportedly received over 6,000 morays for extravagant feasts, while Antonia, Augustus’s niece, kept one as a pet, adorning it with earrings.
