Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mysterious sea creature draws 'alien' comparisons with its sharp teeth, spiky skin
FoxNews.com/Science ^ | Nov 29, 2018 | Jennifer Earl

Posted on 11/29/2018 9:25:16 AM PST by ETL

Hanna Mary was strolling along a beach with her mom and pup close behind when she spotted what she first believed was plastic sheeting. After a rough storm hit Canterbury, New Zealand, last week, Mary anticipated piles of "rubbish" would wash ashore.

But when she inspected the bizarre-looking object Saturday at a Rakaia Huts beach, shrieking after she realized it wasn't just another piece of trash — it was the skeleton of an "alien"-like critter.

"When I pulled it out and saw all the teeth and barbs I was convinced it was a rare deep sea creature," Mary told Fox News. "I was so excited because I love the ocean and it's inhabitants." ..."

With its wings, small fins on its back, two "legs" on either side and "barbs all over" that look like teeth, Mary had to partially agree with her followers that it was definitely unusual. That's why she decided to take it to a local taxidermist, though he wasn't able to confirm anything.

Malcolm Francis, a fisheries scientist and marine ecologist at National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), told the New Zealand Herald it's a New Zealand rough skate, also known as a Dipturus nasutus.

"They are called rough skate because they are very prickly ... it's quite common in Canterbury," Francis, who has been studying fish for more than 40 years, told the newspaper. "It's like flat shark, it has a skeleton made out of cartilage. They spend much of their time on the bottom."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Local News; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: bottomdweller; canterbury; cartilaginousfish; cryptobiology; dipturusnasutus; fish; newzealand; roughskate
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last
To: PLMerite

Not Again!


21 posted on 11/29/2018 10:34:35 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

gifs website
Speedo - The Cadillacs

22 posted on 11/29/2018 10:49:14 AM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ETL
Here's my theory - millions of years ago when the planet was sterilized by Berserkers (before reseeding) a small area in the Australian/ New Zealand region was missed because the earth's slightly misshapen. And rather than to a ‘do-over’ the berserker left... so, all the weird stuff comes from that arer... (tongue in cheek - kinda)

https://www.spacetimestories.com/blog/fermi-paradox/the-efficient-berserker-hypothesis

23 posted on 11/29/2018 11:01:56 AM PST by GOPJ (Watch for our survival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE-dead)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ETL

Dilophosaurus.


24 posted on 11/29/2018 11:02:07 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Perhaps we should be less concerned about who we might offend and more concerned with who we inspire)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ETL

Whats interesting is that the woman who found the creature thought it may be or was alien. Instead of a different type of earth creature....the power of cultural suggestion is very strong. The use of too many untrue media devices output can lead to false impressions


25 posted on 11/29/2018 11:07:48 AM PST by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and diamonds, and harder to find.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Check please!


26 posted on 11/29/2018 3:18:54 PM PST by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj
It came from the land right next to the land down under, hmm, good idea for a song...

27 posted on 11/30/2018 12:06:09 AM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson