Locals identify mystery ‘blob’ creature on WA beach

A mysterious ‘blob’ creature confused locals after it washed up on a WA beach, but the sea creature may have been identified.

A mystery ‘blob’ that washed up on a Western Australian beach has been identified by locals who remember the sea creature’s ‘shocking’ sting.

The beachgoer discovered the creature at Quinns Rock and took to Facebook for answers.

“Can anyone help me to identify this thing?,” Reef Dunn posted to the Snorkeling Western Australia page.

Mystery blob washes up on WA beach. Source: Facebook, Reef Dunn.

The mystery blob attracted a flurry of comments with experienced ocean lovers revealing it was a Coffin Ray or ‘Numbfish,’ a species of electric ray capable of producing a shock of up to 200 volts, according to the Dive Database.

One member posted a video in the comments of his encounter with the unusual species while spearfishing.

“Biggest I’ve ever seen, (the Coffin Ray) wasn’t harmed when the (octopus) picked him up, occy was dead by the electric shock, I got hit as well,” he wrote beneath.

The upturned blob or ‘Coffin Ray’ freaked out locals. Source: Facebook, Reef Dunn.

“My mate was pushing it away with his snare end as it was shocking him, 20 times more powerful than a shark shield,” he continued.

Other members shared their experiences and likened the ray’s sting to an electric fence that “gave a good buzz as I found out years ago when I touched one”.

Commentators replied that the discovery was “my nightmare come to life,” while others poked fun at the furore and called it “a tadpole that undeniably got too close to Fukashima!”

Experienced divers identified the mystery creature. Source: Facebook, Reef Dunn.

According the Australian Museum, the Coffin Ray is well known to divers who often encounter the creature in shallow waters where they hide under the sand in bays and estuaries across Australia.

They are particularly common along WA, NSW and South Australian coasts, but seem to avoid northern waters in the Northern Territory and Queensland, as well as southern regions in Victoria and Tasmania.