Australian 'Mystery Creature From The Deep' Washes Up On Shores Of Lake Macquarie
Monster From The Deep Washes Up In Australia.. But Is It Real?
Eve Hartley— The Huffington Post UK
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Australia is well-known for its deadly and strange-looking creatures, but a picture of the carcass of a prehistoric-looking creature on the shores of a well-known lake was too much for most people's imaginations.
The beast, which appears to have a crocodile-like jaw but the body of a giant fish, washed up on a boat ramp next to Lake Macquarie, in New South Wales, prompting a local man to post a picture of it onto his Facebook account.
Ethan Tippa shared pictures of the unidentified creature, leading to speculation on across the world.
He wrote: "This is at Swansea boat ramp. What the fuck is it?" to accompany the picture of the grotesque mystery.
The image divided opinion on social media with some suggesting it could be photoshopped, and others thinking it was a Loch Ness monster-esque creature.
But one marine biologist attempted to squash the rumours, arguing instead that it could be a deceptively large pike eel.
Julian Pepperell said the species is frequently caught by fishers at night who get "the fright of their lives" when they reel in a powerful, thrashing predator with a nasty bite.
"There are certainly people who are bitten by them in boats,
"They have incredibly strong muscle and their teeth are geared towards inflicting slashing wounds," he told the Newcastle Herald.
The biologist added that the creature was probably “relatively old”, and could have died from a net entanglement, been hit by a boat or died of old age.
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A Japanese Pike eel
"I think it's definitely a pike eel. The head is very indicative of that species," he said.
He also said that the angle of the photo made it difficult to judge the creature's length, but that it appears longer than the species' average maximum of 1.8 metres (5.9 feet).
Pike eels are not poisonous to eat, and are frequently sold in the markets of Southeast Asia.
Lake Macquarie is Australia's largest coastal salt water lagoon and is a popular spot for many families, who swim in the relatively shallow waters.
Todd Ray's Weird Animals
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(01 of09)
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Todd Ray, who is recognized by Guinness World Records as having the largest collection of two-headed animals, is celebrating the second birthday of Pancho and Lefty, a two-headed, six-legged bearded dragon on July 7 in Venice Beach, Calf. (credit:Todd Ray/ Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(02 of09)
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Todd Ray, who runs the Venice Beach Freakshow in Los Angeles and has what may be the world's largest collection of two-headed animals, spent $100 to make this pinata as part of a birthday party he's holding July 7 for Pancho and Lefty, his two-headed, six-legged beard dragon. (credit:Courtesy of Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(03 of09)
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Ray spent around $5,000 for Pancho and Lefty after they were born in May, 2010. He believes they are the rarest animals in the world and is proud he's been able to keep them alive for two years since most people didn't think they'd survive a month. (credit:Courtesy of Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(04 of09)
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According to Ray, Pancho is the more aggressive one, and prefers crickets. Lefty, on the other hand is more docile and prefers greens. (credit:Courtesy of Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(05 of09)
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Ray plans to celebrate Pancho and Lefty's birthday by having a mariachi band seranade them at the Venice Beach Freakshow and by having a sword swallower gobble down three swords in their honor. (credit:Courtesy of Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(06 of09)
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What's a party for a two-headed dragon without other two-headed party guests like Laverne and Shirley, a two-headed king snake born in Italy. Ray says when he feeds one a mouse he has to put a playing card between them because otherwise they'd start eating each other. (credit:Courtesy of Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(07 of09)
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Ray says Lenny and Squiggy, a two-headed Albino Hognose snake, is considered by most to be the rarest snake on Earth. (credit:Courtesy of Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(08 of09)
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Myrtle and Squirtle, a two-headed turtle, was Ray's first double-domed creature. He bought her 10 years ago and says he was mesmerized. "It was literally the cutest thing I ever saw in my life," he said. (credit:Courtesy of Venice Beach Freakshow)
Two-headed Bearded Dragon Celebrates Second Birthday(09 of09)
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One two-headed, six-legged bearded dragon should be enough for anyone, but earlier this year, Ray became of the proud owner of Jeckyll and Hyde, who are younger and smaller. (credit:Todd Ray/ Venice Beach Freakshow)