In the frigid Antarctic Ocean, a group of emperor penguins is returning to dry land after a much needed hunt for food. The weather is unforgiving and the waters are dark in color, obscuring any view of its contents deep within. As the group begins to near shore, they are oblivious to the presence of another creature within their vicinity, a creature which has also been searching for food.

Bull sharks are large, powerful, and highly aggressive predators. Among the sharks which have gained the most notoriety in the eyes of people, it is the bull shark which is considered the most dangerous. Though it may not grow as large as the infamous great white shark, make no mistake; the bull shark is a fearsome hunter in its own right. Preferring the same warm, shallow beaches which attract countless people every year and capable of surviving in freshwater environments for extended periods of time, the chances of running into a bull shark are much higher than those of encountering most other sharks.

North Queensland, Australia, is known for its ideal beaches. The beautiful scenery and tropical atmosphere of the area attract countless tourists and locals every year. Yet coastal waters are generally known for their potential danger as well. Throughout history, cases of injuries and fatalities resulting from encounters with dangerous wild animals have taken place, from shark attacks to envenomation from creatures such as stingrays. North Queensland’s beaches are no exception to these risks. However, sharks and stingrays are far from the region’s most urgent problems.

It is July 1, 1916. Charles Epting Vansant, 25, is on vacation with his family in Beach Haven, a resort town in Long Beach Island. He makes his way to the beach for a swim before returning to his family for dinner. Vansant enters the water with a Chesapeake Bay retriever which was playing on the beach. All seems well. That is, until he begins screaming.

With long tentacles possessing suction cups lined with sharp hooks, a powerful beak with which to lacerate and slice up its prey, and the ability to become nearly invisible in the frigid depths where it lives, the Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) is a fearsome predator in every sense of the word. The species is also mysterious, as much of our knowledge on them is based on speculation. The species is highly aggressive and is known cannibalize on other Humboldt squid. Even attacks on divers have occurred on more than one occasion. This notorious reputation has earned them the nickname of “diablos rojos” or “red devils.”

A pod of seals makes its way back to the shore from hunting in order to return to their resting grounds. Exhausted from the hunt, they push themselves through the icy cold waters to the best of their ability. Unbeknownst to the pod, however, a group of large predators have been tracking them down throughout the return trip. An older seal begins to decelerate, unable to keep up with the younger individuals. As it begins to near the shore, it senses a sudden disturbance in the water. Before any reaction could take place, the water explodes beneath it, and the seal is clenched in the jaws of a leviathan, a great orca.