Just Like in ALIEN–But Real! See the Shocking Moment Eel Bursts from the Belly of a Bird

Talk about biting off more that you can chew…

Delaware nature photographer Sam Davis caught the aftermath of a scene straight out of Alien: A snake eel bursting from the belly of a heron! All the more shocking: the bird seems relatively unphased by the event (although it’s unclear of either animal ultimately survived the unfortunate encounter).

“The heron didn’t seem to act much differently,” Davis told Live Science. “It was in the water and flying around.” The pictures were first shared on Instagram.

Snake eels have been known to slice their way out of the bellies of would-be aquatic predators, but this could be the first time the phenomenon has been witnessed in a bird. The heron could have survived if the snake eel was ultimately extricated and the wound healed without infection. As for the snake eel, it’s believed he was alive while photographed, but its ultimate survival would depend on where it was dropped.

What do you think of these incredible (and unsetteling) photos? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.

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