Great Swallower: The fish managed to swallow another fish more than four times its size
A fisherman found a fish in waters off the South Coast of Grand Cayman that had swallowed another fish more than four times its size.
McPherson "Dorson" Wright's attention was drawn to an object floating on the surface nearby. The fish, aptly named the Great Swallower, was just 7.5 inches in length. The fish it had eaten measured 34 inches, which is close to three feet in length.
Mr. Wright said that normally its expected that "big fish to eat down the small fish," but this greedy little creature had a huge appetite and eyes far bigger than its belly.
"When I first saw it, I really couldn't believe my eyes," said Wright. "It had obviously just died, so I decided I had to put it in the boat and take it down to the Department of the Environment to investigate it further."
On later inspection by scientists, it was established that the fish had consumed an extremely large and aggressive "snake mackerel" that was more than four times its own length.
Snake mackerel have a similar appearance to barracudas.
Scientist Mr Sutton of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute added that it was likely "the finding would be written up in a scientific paper" and was intrigued about how the Great Swallower avoided being eaten by the snake mackerel.
The fish may even make it into the world record books and may be shipped to the United States for further inspection.
Local Marine Scientist Phillippe Bush said, "I would hate to see what a three-foot-long Great Swallower is capable of eating."