Russian deep-sea fisherman Roman Fedortsov caused a stir online after posting footage of a strange and mysterious sea creature that viewers have compared to aliens. The video, uploaded to his Instagram account, garnered over 200,000 views and sparked a flurry of theories among his followers.
Fedortsov, who works on a fishing boat in Murmansk, Russia, and is active in the Barents Sea, is known for sharing images of the unusual creatures he brings up from the depths. He has gained a following of over 600,000 on Instagram, where he regularly shares photos and videos of the most bizarre beings he has caught in his nets.
In his most recent post, Fedortsov showcased a gray, bloated lumpsucker fish, identified as Aptocyclus ventricosus. The creature, resting on the railing of his ship, has a bulbous body that resembles a brain, shriveled eyes, and an open mouth. Its unusual appearance led many viewers to liken it to an alien.
Comments about the fish flooded in, with one user declaring, "Yes, aliens are real," according to the Mirror. One individual dubbed the fish "Megamind," referencing the cartoon villain known for his large head, while another likened it to "The Dark Lord" from Harry Potter.
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Others expressed their astonishment at the fish's appearance. One viewer exclaimed, "What a horror," while another joked, "My morning face." "Alien or predator?" one person wondered.
Fedortsov identified the fish as a smooth lumpsucker, or Aptocyclus ventricosus. He explained that the fish looks so swollen due to the rapid pressure changes it underwent during its journey to the surface.
Fedortsov has previously shared images of other unusual sea creatures. Among his catches are a beautiful wolf fish and a grotesque-faced creature likened to an alien. He has also caught a strange dragon-like fish with yellow eyes, which turned out to be a chimaera known as a ghost shark.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.