30-Year-Old Leopard Eel Looks Mesmerizing In Viral CT Scan Pictures [Photos]

A recent CT scan of a leopard eel has taken the internet by storm. The picture looks otherworldly, making it impossible to believe it's not a work of art.

Named Larry Gordon, the leopard eel was taken in for a CT scan at Summit Veterinary Referral Center in Tacoma, Washington. The veterinary check-up revealed an abnormal growth in the roof of the 30-year-old eel's mouth, Newsweek reported.

A CT (Computed Tomography) scan is a technique that takes a series of x-rays of the body from different angles and produces a 3D image.

The fascinating photos were posted on Instagram by the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in the US.

"Our 30-year-old leopard eel, Larry Gordon, recently traveled to Summit Veterinary Referral Center for a CT scan," the photos posted on Instagram were captioned.

"Zoo Veterinarian, Dr. Kadie, identified a mass in the eel's mouth that was likely due to a broken tooth. After the tooth was extracted, our veterinary team scheduled surgery with an outside veterinary dentist and surgeon to remove the oral growth and help Larry Gordon feel better," the post further said.

In the photos, the eel looked like an enlightened dragon in golden color.

As the post viral on the platform, its comment section was flooded with reactions from users. Many netizens also mistook the eel for a piece of art or jewelry in the photos.

"That scan is so cool! I thought it was art at first," wrote one user. "I thought it was jewelry. Looks cool. I hope Larry Gordon heals quickly," another commented.

While some felt sad for the eel, others were intrigued by the astonishing CT scan.

"That must have been hard for him being minimally in the water! so grateful he's got his problems known & handled," one user said in the comment section.

Another user remarked, "I just can't even imagine there was a veterinary dentist that could help with this!! Working on an eel seems so specialized. So amazing".

"Glad Larry is feeling better! Also, that imaging is insane. Reason number 372 why I'm not a veterinarian," another comment read.

Leopard eels are also known as Cheetah or Fimbriated eels due to the pattern of their skin. This eel, having a slimy yellow-to-olive body covered in black spots, is just as vicious as the eponymous animal. With a jaw full of razor-sharp teeth, a leopard eel can grow up to 32 inches long. It calls the tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean its natural habitat.