Unidentified ‘alien’ creature washes up on Maroochydore Beach

A local man has been left stunned on his morning beach walk after discovering a bizarre creature washed up on shore.

An “alien-like” creature has washed up on a beach in Queensland, leaving people stunned.

The unknown creature, which appeared to have four limbs with a reptile-like skull and a tail, was found on Maroochydore Beach by perplexed local Alex Tan.

“It was just after we had all that stuff washed up on beaches from the floods,” he said. “Its hands were really weird. I’m just calling it an alien,” he said, after posting the image online.

“I’m excited to hear what it would be.”

Mr Tan said he initially thought it could be a possum, but admitted he was still unsure exactly what the strange creature was.

He offered anyone with a better explanation a chicken parmigiana at the pub.

“I want to put the deal out there – if it’s not a possum I will shout that person a chicken parmy,” he said.

Maroochydore resident Alex Tan was shocked to discover a mystery animal at Cotton Tree beach following recent floods.

It’s not the first time social media has been left perplexed by terrifying creatures washing ashore, with a massive black fish turning up at a California beach sending commenters into a spin last year.

A beachgoer snapped incredible pics of the find at Newport Beach at Crystal Cove State Park in May 2021.

The creature, which was later identified as a Pacific footballfish, is a resident of the deepest parts of the ocean where fish are forced to evolve with lanterns to navigate the shadowy depths.

The Pacific footballfish is part of the anglerfish family consisting of over 300 species. The alien-esque fellow pictured here came in at 45cm, but the largest of the anglerfish family can reach almost 30 times that size with the Ceratias holboelli capable of measuring in at a whopping 1.2m.

If you thought stepping on a washed-up stingray in the sand was enough to cack your dacks, be thankful you don’t live in southern California.