Mystery Solved

This “strange creature” video went viral last week. A Singapore fisherman reeled in a catch that seemed part-octopus and all crazy. He videotaped the thing, hoping someone could tell him what he landed. For a short while, the media seemed to be crediting the wrong angler with the find and the creature really was portrayed as a mystery, maybe even some new species. The “alien creature” description was also popular. Now the smart money is betting the animal is a rare, but well-understood cousin of the starfish, dubbed the “basket star.”

Here’s a link to a video of a basket star as it appears in its natural habitat. I think what you’ll find is that the basket star is pretty creepy wherever you find it but seems somehow less startling and more recognizable in the water. It’s seeing the creature out of context, in the open air, that really caused all the hub-bub. Either way, check out the icky video that is closing in on its first million YouTube views.