Mysterious alien-looking fish with razor-sharp teeth washes up on California beach

There could be a whopping 2.2 million species of creature in the ocean – and scientists have only found around 240,000 of them so far.

In the depths of the water, you can find all manner of weird marine life. We're talking vampire squids, blobfish and sea angels. Yes, they're all real.

It's not unusual for bizarre fish to wash up on our shores every now and again – and that's exactly what happened in California recently.

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An unsuspecting passer-by in Dana Point, California, stumbled upon it while going for a walk on October 13. They then took to social media to share images of the find.

Accompanying the online post, the beach-goer penned: "Dead marine animal washed up on shore, what is this thing?" The social media user then added a string of photos to highlight the unique find.

Unsettling images show the lifeless, long-bodied pale creature, draped with seaweed, boasting a pronounced snout and sharp teeth, along with a lengthy tail but no fins.

Social media users were quick to offer their suggestions – and the post garnered more than 1,200 likes. One commenter joked: "I'll see myself out."

Another said: "I hate it and I love it. Thank you for your service." A third replied: "Horrifyingly goofy thing wtf."

But someone else got to the bottom of the matter – insisting the creature isn't actually extra-terrestrial. They said: "Those things are so alien-looking. But as others have already said, def not an alien but rather an eel."

A moray eel is a type of elongated fish that belongs to the family Muraenidae. They are known for their snake-like appearance and typically inhabit warm ocean waters around the world, particularly in coral reefs and rocky crevices. There are approximately 200 species of moray eels, varying in size, coloration, and habitat preferences.

Moray eels have distinctive physical features, including long, muscular bodies, smooth, scaleless skin, and a wide mouth equipped with sharp teeth for grasping prey. They are carnivorous, primarily feeding on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Moray eels are known for their unique hunting behavior, often working in cooperation with other marine predators, like groupers, to catch prey.

While they might appear intimidating, moray eels are generally shy and prefer to hide in crevices during the day, coming out to hunt mainly at night. They can deliver a painful bite if provoked, but they are not typically aggressive towards humans unless threatened or disturbed.