Mystery of ‘Hoof Prints’ at the Bottom of the Sea May Finally Be Solved

Distinctive markings shaped like hoof prints were discovered by researchers off the coast of New Zealand in 2013—but these were underwater, 450 meters deep in the sea. Where did they come from? Now they know.

Bottom of the Sea Mystery – Progress

We didn’t want to know if it wasn’t a magic underwater horse. But a group of marine biologists have studied the markings a bit deeper and can almost conclusively say what they’re from… and it’s a disappointingly boring fish called the grenadier.

Apparently, the shapes in the underwater sand seem to perfectly match the bite marks or mouth of a fish known as a grenadier. We prefer the magic underwater horse.

Scientists Can Finally Smile

It was a great moment for scientists when they finally watched a video of a grenadier fish biting down for food in the mud. That’s when they realized how similar those markings were to those of the ‘hoof prints’ they had been looking at for years at the bottom of the sea.

They discovered this because this specific species of fish has a very particular head and mouth position that matches the markings in the sand. That’s how they were so sure.

The second discovery also opened up new conversations about the grenadier’s feeding habits, which made for a nice bonus amid the magic underwater horse disappointment.