A strange creature sparked widespread controversy in Australia after it appeared on the beach of Horseshoe Bay in Port Elliot, south of Adelaide, where local residents discovered it after it was washed ashore. They took pictures of it and published it widely.
The creature’s unique shape sparked speculation about its nature, as some considered it an unusual “alien” being on planet Earth.
The creature is about 3 meters long, and consists of transparent legs dotted with small brown “shells” containing microorganisms that move in and out of them.
Residents posted videos of the creature, wondering about its identity, and its pictures sparked a torrent of comments on social media. Some claimed that the creature was a collection of goose shells, a type of marine crustacean that forms clusters on floating structures, such as rocks and wood that float on the surface of the water.
Pictures of the creature spread quickly on social media, with Twitter and Instagram users commenting on the strangeness of the creature and its shape, which suggests that it is from extraterrestrial Earth. One of the women said in a video tweet, “When I saw it on the beach, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing… What is this creature?!”
As for marine ecologist at the University of South Australia, Dr. Zoe Doubleday, she told the British newspaper “Daily Mail” that the creature is most likely a group of goose shells, which is a type of marine crustacean.
Doubleday explained that there are two types of goose shells: The common type that grows on rocks and ship hulls, and the other type, seen on the beach of Horseshoe Bay, has transparent legs that help it capture food particles.
She added that these organisms often gather on floating objects for long periods, making them appear as a strange organic mass.
The marine ecologist said: “This discovery is unique. These organisms may have grown on an ancient structure or piece of marine infrastructure that had been in the water for a long time, which allowed them to form in an unusual and dense shape.”
The discovery of strange marine creatures on the beaches remains the focus of interest for many, as it arouses both scientific and popular curiosity. This discovery shed light on the amazing biodiversity in the marine environment, and also provided a reminder of the power of nature and its ability to create wondrous creatures that arouse astonishment and contemplation.
