Wolf eel, Anarrhichthys ocellatus

Encrusting hydrocoral (Stylantheca porphyra), wolf eel (Anarrhichthys
ocellatus) and gopher rockfish (Sebastes carnatus).

    "Middle Farallon", Farallon Islands, California
    February 4, 2007






This red octopus (Octopus rubescens) is getting the best of a juvenile
wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus). It's a sure testament to the
octopus's success as a camouflage artist that it took me a good long time to
understand what was going on here. If I recall, the stream of consciousness went
something like "Huh, that's odd, why is that little wolf eel sticking its head
in a hole . . . and why is it assuming such an odd posture?". After a little
more inspection, "Hey, that wolf eel is eating an octopus!". It took quite a bit
more time to figure out who was really in control. In fact, I wasn't entirely
sure until after I separated the two participants, revealing the wound the
octopus had inflicted.

    "Shale Island", Monterey Bay, California
    May 22, 2005



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