The vampire squid that feasts on feces and mucus

A bizarre-looking sea creature lurking 3,000 feet below the surface doesn't eat other animals. Instead, it acts as "the garbage disposal of the ocean"

Vampire squid
(Image credit: YouTube)

Vampyroteuthis infernalis, literally the "vampire squid from hell," doesn't prey on other marine life, in spite of its terrifying name. In fact, a new study from researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute suggests that the mysterious deep-sea "living fossil" harmlessly subsists primarily on the ocean's waste products, including fecal matter and discarded shells. Here's what you should know about this strange creature:

Why is it called a living fossil?

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