'Alien-looking' creature washes up on beach and people are all saying the same thing

A strange sea creature that washed up on a California beach has caused both fear and curiosity in the online world.

The bizarre-looking marine animal was found by a beachcomber at Dana Point , as reported by What's The Jam . Taking to social media, the person who discovered it laying lifeless in the sand shared a series of images and asked: "Dead marine animal washed up on shore, what is this thing?"

The accompanying photos show the distinctive appearance of the creature. The eerie critter, which was draped in seaweed, boasts a pale, long, body with a large snout packed with razor-sharp teeth. It has a lengthy tail but no visible fins, and its discovery prompted more than 1,285 likes and many comments.

One user humorously said: "I'll see myself out". Another expressed mixed feelings and penned: "I hate it and I love it. Thank you for your service," while a third said: "Horrifyingly goofy thing wtf."

Additionally, another person remarked: "Those things are so alien-looking. But as others have already said, def not an alien but rather an eel."

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Found on Sunday, October 13, on the Californian beach , the creature is believed to be a moray eel, common in tropical and subtropical seas, and often residing in shallow waters. Moray eels represent about 200 species spread across 15 genera and although they're mainly found in the ocean, some can be seen in brackish or even fresh waters.

Moray eels, unconventional and peculiar in their appearance, are characterised by their dorsal fins which extend from just behind the head down the back, seamlessly blending with the caudal and anal fins. The creatures often lack pectoral and pelvic fins, accentuating their snake-like aesthetic.

Patterns frequently adorn their bodies, with some species sporting intricate designs even within their mouths. Their broad jaws end in a pronounced snout and are typically equipped with sizable teeth geared for tearing flesh or holding onto elusive prey.

With their relatively small eyes, moray eels are thought to depend greatly on their acute sense of smell to ambush and capture their prey.

The recent discovery of a moray eel in California sparked jest among the public, with several clever observers keen to reimagine the classic Dean Martin tune 'That's Amore' with humorous new lyrics about the eel. One person said: "When it's found on the beach, and it's dead and sun-bleached, that's a moray!"

Other quips followed such as: "If it washes up dead with sharp teeth in its head, that's a Moray."

Another person humorously penned: "When it's white as a ghoul, in a shallow tidal pool, that's a Moray."

Another wordsmith said: "That's a moray. Go back tonight to confirm. If the moon hits its eyes like a big pizza pie that's a Moray," while another added: "And when the eel's maw has pharyngeal jaws, that's a moray."