Feasts are rare on the barren landscape of the ocean depths. So researchers couldn't believe their luck after they chanced on a feeding frenzy of deep-sea sharks chowing down on a fallen swordfish off the US coast in July 2019.
But they never imagined they might also capture footage of 1 of these sharks becoming the prey for an additional deep-sea creature.
With their rover hovering nearby, a late arrival took advantage of the submersible's shadow. Nobody might blame a wary fish for holding back while ravenous sharks feed, but this heavyweight had plans to show one amongst the diners into its dinner.
A video posted by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the aftermath of the ambush by a hungry wreckfish. you'll watch it for yourself within the clip below, with shark lunch being served at around 1:42.
The action materialized at a depth of about 450 metres (roughly 1,480 ft) near an increase within the seafloor 130 kilometres (80 miles) off the coast of South Carolina.
While scouting for the wreck of the tanker SS Bloody Marsh, NOAA's remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer chanced upon the remains of a 2.5 metre (8 ft) long swordfish being chewed on by nearly a dozen deep-sea sharks.
"The reason behind the death of this majestic animal is unclear, perhaps as a result of age, disease, or another injury," says marine scientist Peter J. Auster from the University of Connecticut.
"There was no visible hook or trail of cord suggesting this was a lost catch. However, any variety of injury would are masked by the huge damage caused by many shark bites."
The sharks were two species of slow-moving, deep-sea dogfish commonly spoken as sleeper sharks. Two of the larger individuals were likely to be rough skin dogfish (Centroscymnus owstonii).
Others belonged to a comparatively newly discovered animal: Genie's dogfish (Squalus clarkae), named in honour of Mote Marine Laboratory founder Eugenie 'Shark Lady' Clark in 2018.
Both of the sleeper shark species are commonly found at these types of depths, sluggishly cruising about until some morsel happens by. Or, as during this case, happens to precipitate like manna from heaven somewhere within the area.
Sniffing out food on the currents, or perhaps detecting the vibrations of earlier arrivals, it's believed they might have journeyed from far just to stock up on the food drop.
Whatever attracted the scavengers, it wasn't long before what looks to be a solitary trouble Atlantic wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) also homed in on the scene for a simple meal.
These massive fish also are named as sea bass and bass gropers. they will exceed 2 metres (about 7 feet) long and typically hang around trouble caves and shipwrecks.
Whether it came for the daily special but stayed for the party isn't clear. But because the feast continued, the wreckfish emerged from the glare of the Deep Discover's lights to wrap its lips around one amongst the sharks.
"This rare and startling event leaves us with more questions than answers, but such is that the nature of scientific exploration," says Auster.
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