Robot Explorer Sub Spots ‘Sea Serpent’
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on July 26th, 2013
Scientists using robot submarines borrowed from an oil rig have captured rare images of a live oarfish – thought to be the source of many “sea serpent” tales in days of yore.
Here be monsters. An image from video of a seven metre-long oarfish, taken by Dr Mark Benfield’s robot sub.
Marine biologist Mark Benfield and his collegaues were using the undersea robots to search for signs of environmental damage in the Gulf of Mexico in 2011, when the mysterious deep-sea creature swam into view.
Dr Benfield released video of the ‘sea serpent’ and published a description of its behaviour in a scientific journal this week.
It’s only the second time that a living oarfish has been seen in at depth – most reports are based on the remains of dead or dying animals that float to the surface.
Dr Benfield estimated the specimen was up to seven metres long.
Read the rest of the story here.
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
To me Craig when I look at that picture I have the distinct sense I’m looking at something much smaller than seven metres almost a fry.
Obviously they’re experts an’ I don’t know what I’m talkin’ ’bout but when I checked just now other pictures of oarfish out there what instantly hit me was how relatively tiny the eyes were to the rest of the body whereas this thing’s got a comparatively huge eye.
Maybe this’s true of some species especially say at the juvenile stage but I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out they’d released the wrong shot.
Great image…it’s a start.
Yeah…it strikes me as a rather young fish as well…the particles in the water surrounding the fish make it rather obvious that its not seven feet long. Great shot though! And a cool looking fish to be sure. I had never heard of their electric capability, interesting.
I m not sure if those lower fin ray extensions are from the pectoral or ventral fins but if that fish is really 7′ then those are some VERY long fin rays!
ok…i just watched that third link above with footage of a of a big specimen, and it too has noticeably large eyes and considerable fin ray extention but not nearly as long ans the above specimen.
Cool footage to be sure!
Alan is correct. This is NOT an image from the robot sub film. In fact, not even a picture of a juvenile oarfish either. Guess you can’t believe everything you find on the internet. 🙂
That thing looks like a fishing lure (LOL) for a shark. No wonder they need to be electric to keep from being feasted on all the time by sharks.
You can watch the video here: ‘Sea Serpent’ Video
“Hoax! Obviously a person in a suit!”
Just kidding, super cool stuff. 🙂