Next up the #5 Vampire Squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) vs. the #12 Basket Star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) #2021MMM
Tonight's battle takes place in the depths of the West Atlantic in the Gulf of Guinea about 300 miles south southeast off the Ivory Coast #2021MMM
These depths are home to the #5 seed the Vampire Squid who's scientific names roughly tranlates as Vampire squid...FROM HELL #2021MMM
While in possession of a scary name the vampire squid is neither a vampire (it feeds on detritus) nor a squid (it's in its own order, more closely related to octopuses) #2021MMM
The other contestant in tonight's battle is the Basket Star, Gorgoncephalus eucnemis. The star's multiple arms and twisting nature evoked the ancient gorgons in its naming (img from marinespecies.org/ophiuroidea/ap…) #2021MMM 
The Vampire Squid is a smallish cephalopod, averaging about a foot long, with large eyes and multiple bioluminescent spots along its body #2021MMM (Image from tolweb.org/Vampyroteuthis…)
Both of these animals feed on small bits of dead and dying animals. The Basket Star, as a bottom dweller, basically waits for it to rain hamburgers #2021MMM
The Vampire squid is more active attracting small animals with its bioluminescent pores. It creates flashes of light to attract the snacks #2021MMM
The Basket Star spends most of its time attached to the bottom. Pressure is not a problem as they have a highly calcified internal structure (fig. from link.springer.com/article/10.100…) #2021MMM
Movement however... that's not the Basket Star's strong suit #2021MMM
Our battle begins with floundering, the Basket Star struggles to find its orientation without the ground to situate itself, it feels lost, adrift #2021MMM
This thrashing draws the attention of the nearby Vampire Squid who, using its fins, moves to investigate #2021MMM
The Basket Star reaches out, trying to find some substance to orient itself, something solid in this all encompassing void #2021MMM
Mistaking the Basket Star's request for succor as an aggressive action, the Vampire Squid releases a burst of bioluminescent mucus and darts back #2021MMM
The cloud of light gives an oddly beautiful point of reference for the Basket Star as it sinks lower and lower. A marker by which it can track its descent into the icy depths and out of the tournament #2021MMM
VAMPIRE SQUID DEFEATS BASKET STAR!!!! #2021MMM
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