A greedy eel ended up biting off more than it could chew after trying to swallow a puffer fish that inflated in its mouth, causing it to suffocate.
Tim Mayer, a German-born scuba diving instructor, found a dead eel with a puffer fish in its mouth on the beach of Titikaveka island, part of the Cook Islands, last month
Marine biologist Kirby Morejohn said the eel likely suffocated after the puffer fish blocked its throat, because eels have to be able to suck water through their throats to breathe, unlike fish
‘Nature usually seems to have sorted out the kinks. If porcupine fish are normally on an eel’s menu, I’d expect eels to target sizes that can be swallowed. But clearly, this isn’t the case.’
Yann Mayer, Tim’s son, poses next to the 4ft eel after he discovered it during a morning walk along the beach
Tim was so astonished by the find that he summoned wife Lucile (left), son Yann and daughter Charlie (left) to examine it