No individual "space eel" has successfully been captured because of their unique defence mechanisms. But biologists have examined tissue remains and the genetic analysis has revealed the eels share no common ancestor with any species we're aware of on earth. No one is quite sure how eels would have made it to our planet across the vastness of space but I'm sure there is plenty of ocean on Earth where a downed spaceship might be resting…
The defense mechanisms are of particular interest to me because I accidentally ran afoul of a nest of space eels while scuba diving off the coast of Oregon. When you startle a space eel, it will strike and remove the offending object - from existence. But they don't seem to intend to cause death. While a fascinating contradiction, this "rule" meant to me that within seconds I went from a man with 2 arms and legs to a woman with a single limb (the "limbs" they removed from existance included my male genitalia.) The body remaining looks like those parts of my body never existed!
I'm thankful my left arm was left intact. Without it I'm not sure I would have safely made it back to the support boat at the water's surface.
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