People have been left confused – and a bit scared – after a weird creature was found at a harbour in England.
The critter with sharp-looking black spikes and a sandy brown body was captured as it slowly wriggled along a wet beach.
The animal was found in the coastal village of Rye, in Sussex, and was identified as a sea mouse.
Sea mice are usually located in the Atlantic and Mediterranean and can wash up to shore during periods of inclement weather.
The creature is a predator and hunts small crabs and seabed worms, according to The Wildlife Trust.
A spokesperson for Rye Harbour Nature Reserve said: “About 15cm long and rarely seen, but in winter, storms can wash them up on the high tide line. This one was found at Rye harbour and put back in the sea. Look closely among its duller bristles to see a shimmering, iridescent fringe!
“It’s been found that the sea mouse uses ‘photonic engineering’, a technology we’re only just getting to grips with. The bristles are structured to reflect light in a certain way, and it’s believed this colourful display deters predators on the dark seabed.”
Despite the group’s attempts to wow social media users about the sea mouse’s biology, many on Facebook were put off by its appearance.
One user wrote: “I know it’s one of god’s creatures, but it’s bloody horrible.”
Another agreed: “Something out of Alien, this is”. While a third said: “Ohh, I don’t like the look of that beastie.”
Poking fun, one user quipped: “That’s a haggis”.
