What Is the ‘Freakish’ Sea Creature Caught on Camera in Singapore?

The creatures that are pulled up out of the ocean never cease to amaze.

A man on Facebook going by the name Jr Saim recently filmed one such encounter with an animal that slowly moved its tangle of tentacle-like arms in a somewhat disturbing manner that has captivated millions of viewers.

Before we get into what this creature is, take a look at it in this video:

The video Saim posted near Changi, Singapore, has more than 3 million views since it went up on Sept. 28.

By what is it? It appears to be a basket star, an echinoderm that, according to Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center, is typically found in the Pacific Ocean between 50 to 500 feet below sea level but can live as deep as 6,564 feet. Basket stars usually feed on zooplankton.

Watch this video from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about the "freakish" invertebrate:

If you just can't get enough of the mesmerizing creature, check out this video of a basket star eating:

(H/T: io9)