However, due to the animal's advanced stage of decomposition it was difficult to actually tell what the mysterious creature actually was.
It was spotted by Jem, 42, who had been out walking her dogs along the beach in Australia.
While it's difficult to see, there is a clear head with eye sockets, as well as the spine jutting out of the back, along with what remains of a pectoral fin.
It looks like the remains of some sort of bony fish, but apart from that it's a mystery.
Jem recalled the moment that she spotted the creature, saying: “We've been having really wild storms in Victoria for the last few weeks so perhaps the storm surges caused it to wash up.
The strange creature was washed up on the beach (Pen News)
“My dogs discovered it on the beach and were sniffing around it. The fish looked really spooky. Its eye sockets were massive."
She added: "We swim at the beach every week in summer so I was pretty shocked to think of such a big fish washing up there."
As for what it could be, Jem was not sure. She said: “People said it could be a giant sunfish, a globefish or a pufferfish. It did look like a pufferfish but I've never seen one that big before.”
Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist at Humane Society International was also unsure as to exactly what species the creature was.
Chlebeck did think that it was a bony fish, or teleost, narrowing it down to only around 26,000 species.
Nonetheless he did think that the most likely candidates for it were either a tuna or a grouper due to its large size.
“My dogs discovered it on the beach and were sniffing around it. The fish looked really spooky. Its eye sockets were massive."
She added: "We swim at the beach every week in summer so I was pretty shocked to think of such a big fish washing up there."
As for what it could be, Jem was not sure. She said: “People said it could be a giant sunfish, a globefish or a pufferfish. It did look like a pufferfish but I've never seen one that big before.”
Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist at Humane Society International was also unsure as to exactly what species the creature was.
Chlebeck did think that it was a bony fish, or teleost, narrowing it down to only around 26,000 species.
Nonetheless he did think that the most likely candidates for it were either a tuna or a grouper due to its large size.
No-one could figure out what it was (Pen News)
Sheridan Rabbitt from the Centre for Marine Science at the University of Queensland had a different notion entirely as to the identity of the strange creature.
Rather than a tuna or grouper, Rabbitt thought it was some sort of pufferfish or a globefish.
But the advanced state of decomposition in the creature rendered its true identity a mystery.
The ocean is renowned for the multitude of weird and wonderful creatures that inhabit it.
From the more well-known animals such as the large sharks all the way to the just downright strange.
For example, one creature is called Phronima and burrows into gelatinous plankton to live as a parasite.
Phronima has indirectly become an icon of the big screen as it was the inspiration for the Xenomorph in the Alien movie franchise.Featured Image Credit: Pen News
Updated 20:12 17 May 2024 GMT+1Published 20:13 17 May 2024 GMT+1
Residents warned as mysterious skull from 40-ton creature washes up on beach
The warning was issued after part of a 40-ton skull washed ashore on a US beach
Sheridan Rabbitt from the Centre for Marine Science at the University of Queensland had a different notion entirely as to the identity of the strange creature.
Rather than a tuna or grouper, Rabbitt thought it was some sort of pufferfish or a globefish.
But the advanced state of decomposition in the creature rendered its true identity a mystery.
The ocean is renowned for the multitude of weird and wonderful creatures that inhabit it.
From the more well-known animals such as the large sharks all the way to the just downright strange.
For example, one creature is called Phronima and burrows into gelatinous plankton to live as a parasite.
Phronima has indirectly become an icon of the big screen as it was the inspiration for the Xenomorph in the Alien movie franchise.Featured Image Credit: Pen News
Updated 20:12 17 May 2024 GMT+1Published 20:13 17 May 2024 GMT+1
Residents warned as mysterious skull from 40-ton creature washes up on beach
The warning was issued after part of a 40-ton skull washed ashore on a US beach
Residents have been warned against moving a mysterious skull fragment from a 40-ton sea creature after it washed up on a US beach.
With around 95% of the ocean unexplored, our seas are home to a bizarre and often frightening array of aquatic life.
Sometimes parts of the creatures of the deep will fins their way onto shore, with onlookers left to marvel at the creatures which live below the waves.
Beachgoers in Hatteras Island, North Carolina got the opportunity to get up close and personal with the remains of a skull this past week, but authorities have issued a warning to anyone looking to travel down to the beach.
Sharing the discovery on social media, the US National Park's Cape Hatteras Facebook page posted an image of the fragment, believed to be from a humpback whale, alongside an interesting insight into the whales' skull.
"We're only halfway through the week and still finding fascinating discoveries on the beaches of Cape Hatteras," they wrote.
"Take a look at this large portion of a Humpback whale skull on Hatteras Island."
Park officials have since explained that the portion of the skull recovered was part of a sea creature's 'cranial cavity,' with the average humpback whale reaching up to 60 feet in length and weighing around 40 tons.
"Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have specialized skull structures to support their unique feeding behaviours," park officials explained.
"Their skulls are relatively flexible, especially around the jaw joints, which enables them to open their mouths wide to consume large volumes of water and prey. The also have mandibles (lower jaws) that are not fused to their skulls."
Humpback whale skull fragment (E. Dlutkowski/ US National Park Service)After seeing the fascinating discovery, beachgoers may feel inspired to take a piece of the whale's skull home as a souvenir, with several people questioning if they could take the skull home in the comments.
However the park has warned against any visitors moving the skull, revealing that it is against the law to take parts or marine mammals washed up ashore.
"Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is illegal to possess any parts of a marine mammal carcass and/or bones," the page responded to one curious commenter, adding that bones are either used for research or buried 'back in the environment'.
Getty Stock Image)Discoveries like this are common in the area, with the Park adding that the region is a 'hotspot for marine mammal activity.'
"At any given time, a wide arrangement of marine mammals move-about and feed very close to Cape Hatteras beaches, influenced by the southern Gulf Stream and the northern Labrador Current colliding off our coast," they added.
So, there you go. Feel free to marvel at the traces of marine life that wash up on our shores, just don't try and force it into the back of your car.Featured Image Credit: National Park Service
Published 20:31 21 Dec 2023 GMT
Hundreds of venomous deep sea creatures have mysteriously washed up on a beach
Hundreds of the creatures have washed up on the Indian beach
Hundreds of venomous sea creatures have washed in India, prompting safety concerns for local residents.
Venomous marine creatures Blue Buttons and Blue Sea Dragons were seen in the city of Chennai after floods and an industrial oil spill.
The animals washed ashore in large numbers, mostly dead but with some still alive, Srivatsan Ramkumar, a resident of Chennai and an Environmentalist Foundation of India said.
He told the News Minute: “Hundreds of them had washed ashore between the broken bridge and the Ashtalakshmi temple stretch of the beach.
“While a large number of them were dead, I spotted some Blue Sea Dragons and Blue Button which were alive.”
He added: "I saw close to 50 near the Broken Bridge area in Besant Nagar on Sunday evening. Some were alive and others were found dead on the sand."
Srivatsan Ramkumar/Environmentalist Foundation of IndiaDue to the fact the animals are venomous, Prashanth E, Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s wildlife warden has warned people not to touch them.
He said: “After cyclonic disturbances, flushing of the sea bed is a common occurrence. On Chennai’s shore, spotting Blue Sea Dragons is not a regular occurrence but they do show up once in a while. It is best not to touch them.”
Although the creatures aren’t deadly to humans, they can cause painful rashes.
VS Chandrasekaran, retired Principal Scientist of the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) told The News Minute: “Blue Button have a ‘man of war’ mechanism – which means that they use the tentacles like body parts to sting any foreign body that comes in contact to defend themselves.”
He added: “Local fishers refer to these jellyfish kinds of organisms as Sori because they cause skin irritation, rashes and pain. It is best to not touch them even though their venom isn’t lethal.”
Srivatsan Ramkumar/Environmentalist Foundation of India
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Joe K Kizhakudan, scientist at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), said: "They feed on venomous siphonophores, the violet snail, and the dangerously venomous Portuguese man o' war.
"The blue dragon stores the man o’ war’s stinging nematocysts within its finger-like appendages. The sting from this little guy can be painful.
"People who swim in shore waters should be careful about not coming in contact with them. However, they can't survive the daytime heat."
Because the creatures live so deep in the sea, it’s rare for humans to ever see a Blue Sea Dragon.Featured Image Credit: Srivatsan Ramkumar/Environmentalist Foundation of India
Horrific moment huge sea creature devours shark in a single bite
The giant fish leapt out of the water and grabbed its prey
A group of fishermen couldn't believe their eyes as they watched a blacknose shark get devoured by a huge sea creature.
And incredibly, they caught the shocking moment on video. Take a look:
Captain John Brossard was out sailing with his crew off the coast of Goodland, Florida when they managed to hook a blacknose shark.
But the 3ft-long shark wasn't the only creature lurking around the boat.
The fishermen also spotted three Atlantic goliath groupers gearing up to take the shark down.
Because believe it or not, sharks aren't the only top predators in the ocean.
In the clip, the crew can be heard anticipating an attack as the grouper circles its prey, before, in one swift move, one of the giant fish leaps out of the water, grabs the shark in its jaws and swims off with it, breaking the fishing crew's line.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Joe K Kizhakudan, scientist at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), said: "They feed on venomous siphonophores, the violet snail, and the dangerously venomous Portuguese man o' war.
"The blue dragon stores the man o’ war’s stinging nematocysts within its finger-like appendages. The sting from this little guy can be painful.
"People who swim in shore waters should be careful about not coming in contact with them. However, they can't survive the daytime heat."
Because the creatures live so deep in the sea, it’s rare for humans to ever see a Blue Sea Dragon.Featured Image Credit: Srivatsan Ramkumar/Environmentalist Foundation of India
Horrific moment huge sea creature devours shark in a single bite
The giant fish leapt out of the water and grabbed its prey
A group of fishermen couldn't believe their eyes as they watched a blacknose shark get devoured by a huge sea creature.
And incredibly, they caught the shocking moment on video. Take a look:
Captain John Brossard was out sailing with his crew off the coast of Goodland, Florida when they managed to hook a blacknose shark.
But the 3ft-long shark wasn't the only creature lurking around the boat.
The fishermen also spotted three Atlantic goliath groupers gearing up to take the shark down.
Because believe it or not, sharks aren't the only top predators in the ocean.
In the clip, the crew can be heard anticipating an attack as the grouper circles its prey, before, in one swift move, one of the giant fish leaps out of the water, grabs the shark in its jaws and swims off with it, breaking the fishing crew's line.
PEN News
Brossard later shared some details about the jaw-dropping moment, saying: "Basically we were shark fishing when all of a sudden two or three goliath groupers started hanging out under the boat waiting for our catch to come in.
"We were just thinking 'wow, unbelievable! Something is going to eat a shark and it's bigger than a shark.'
"We were very surprised. Basically it ate the shark, and took down and broke the line. We were using a 50-pound test line and that was not enough."
Meanwhile, he reckoned the grouper weighed around 500 lbs.
It's certainly a privilege to see the natural world in action like this, but the main thing Brossard seems to have taken away from the experience is that sharks aren't all they're cracked up to be.
He said: "Do they deserve all the hype? I think sometimes yes and sometimes no, but most of the time, no.
Getty Stock Image
"Of course, if you get in their way, in their territory and the water is dirty, yes, they will taste you to see if you are good eating."
Brossard says that out in the Florida Everglades, sights like the grouper attack aren't that uncommon.
He continued: "There are sharks, alligators, crocodiles, pythons, dolphins and manatees all in one place. It's the only place in the world that has all these creatures in one place and everything there tries to eat everything else.
"Bull sharks have been seen getting eaten by crocodiles and alligators sometimes, and sharks also get eaten by bigger fish there."
He continued to say that's why they choose to fish there. "What we like to catch is big fish," he said. “They are all predators in the Everglades. You don’t wanna get lost there and have to walk or swim home.”
We'll take that one off the bucket list then...Featured Image Credit: PEN News
Published 21:11 1 Mar 2024 GMT
New species of mysterious sea creature found in UK for first time could be a serious warning
This may not be a good sign
Scientists have spotted a new species in UK waters for the first time, which is pretty cool, right?
Well, yes and no.
While your initial reaction might be one of celebration, sadly on this occasion the appearance of the mysterious sea creature may not be a good sign for the waters around the UK.
While the UK's waters may not be as spectacular as a tropical coral reef, temperate waters like those around the UK are actually some of the richest for marine life in the world.
But species like this one are not normally found this far north, and could be an indicator of some worrying trends surrounding climate change.
So what is this mysterious creature causing all the fuss?
It's a sea slug!
Meet the sea slug, which is a member of the Pleurobranchaea group that's normally found much further south off the waters of Spain or in the Mediterranean Sea.
Sea slugs are marine molluscs which don't have a shell, unlike their cousins the sea snails which can boast enormous shells.
Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The name 'sea slug' can also be used colloquially to refer to animals which resemble a slug but which are actually very different biologically, such as a sea cucumber.
These are actually echinoderms, the same group as starfish and sea urchins, rather than molluscs.
But what does the presence of this particular sea slug indicate?
Sadly, it's not good news. The new type of slug called Pleurobranchaea britannica was discovered by Ross Bullimore from the Centre for the Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
He explained that this is an indicator species, meaning that it is sensitive to its environment so can be used to gauge change.
He said: "We're seeing the presence of a species [belonging to a group] which has always previously been recorded in warmer waters.
Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
"It could indicate that what you're observing is this group of species being able to expand its range further because conditions are becoming more favourable or more appropriate for it."
Peter Barry of CEFAS said: "To find a new species that's not microscopic is quite exciting. It shows that there's still work to be done."
It is exciting to find a new species, but this also indicates that conditions around UK waters are changing.
While the sea slug may love it, it's possible that native UK species may not find new conditions quite so hospitable.
This goes all the way down to the plankton at the bottom of the food chain, on which many other species ultimately depend.
Brossard later shared some details about the jaw-dropping moment, saying: "Basically we were shark fishing when all of a sudden two or three goliath groupers started hanging out under the boat waiting for our catch to come in.
"We were just thinking 'wow, unbelievable! Something is going to eat a shark and it's bigger than a shark.'
"We were very surprised. Basically it ate the shark, and took down and broke the line. We were using a 50-pound test line and that was not enough."
Meanwhile, he reckoned the grouper weighed around 500 lbs.
It's certainly a privilege to see the natural world in action like this, but the main thing Brossard seems to have taken away from the experience is that sharks aren't all they're cracked up to be.
He said: "Do they deserve all the hype? I think sometimes yes and sometimes no, but most of the time, no.
Getty Stock Image"Of course, if you get in their way, in their territory and the water is dirty, yes, they will taste you to see if you are good eating."
Brossard says that out in the Florida Everglades, sights like the grouper attack aren't that uncommon.
He continued: "There are sharks, alligators, crocodiles, pythons, dolphins and manatees all in one place. It's the only place in the world that has all these creatures in one place and everything there tries to eat everything else.
"Bull sharks have been seen getting eaten by crocodiles and alligators sometimes, and sharks also get eaten by bigger fish there."
He continued to say that's why they choose to fish there. "What we like to catch is big fish," he said. “They are all predators in the Everglades. You don’t wanna get lost there and have to walk or swim home.”
We'll take that one off the bucket list then...Featured Image Credit: PEN News
Published 21:11 1 Mar 2024 GMT
New species of mysterious sea creature found in UK for first time could be a serious warning
This may not be a good sign
Scientists have spotted a new species in UK waters for the first time, which is pretty cool, right?
Well, yes and no.
While your initial reaction might be one of celebration, sadly on this occasion the appearance of the mysterious sea creature may not be a good sign for the waters around the UK.
While the UK's waters may not be as spectacular as a tropical coral reef, temperate waters like those around the UK are actually some of the richest for marine life in the world.
But species like this one are not normally found this far north, and could be an indicator of some worrying trends surrounding climate change.
So what is this mysterious creature causing all the fuss?
It's a sea slug!
Meet the sea slug, which is a member of the Pleurobranchaea group that's normally found much further south off the waters of Spain or in the Mediterranean Sea.
Sea slugs are marine molluscs which don't have a shell, unlike their cousins the sea snails which can boast enormous shells.
Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesThe name 'sea slug' can also be used colloquially to refer to animals which resemble a slug but which are actually very different biologically, such as a sea cucumber.
These are actually echinoderms, the same group as starfish and sea urchins, rather than molluscs.
But what does the presence of this particular sea slug indicate?
Sadly, it's not good news. The new type of slug called Pleurobranchaea britannica was discovered by Ross Bullimore from the Centre for the Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
He explained that this is an indicator species, meaning that it is sensitive to its environment so can be used to gauge change.
He said: "We're seeing the presence of a species [belonging to a group] which has always previously been recorded in warmer waters.
Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images"It could indicate that what you're observing is this group of species being able to expand its range further because conditions are becoming more favourable or more appropriate for it."
Peter Barry of CEFAS said: "To find a new species that's not microscopic is quite exciting. It shows that there's still work to be done."
It is exciting to find a new species, but this also indicates that conditions around UK waters are changing.
While the sea slug may love it, it's possible that native UK species may not find new conditions quite so hospitable.
This goes all the way down to the plankton at the bottom of the food chain, on which many other species ultimately depend.
