A hideous sea creature that resembled a kid-sized leech with teeth that pointed inward washed up on the beaches of Devon, UK, leaving beachgoers with a sight out of a horror film.
Will Miles, a warehouse worker, made the startling discovery, which caused a stir on social media. Pictures of the parasitic organism went viral, evoking comparisons to the enormous sandworms from the science fiction film “Dune.”
The 26-year-old Miles described the creature he saw as “hugely oversized” and menacingly positioned close to the tideline. Its length is estimated to be a startling 31 inches, making it comparable in size to a toddler.
Photographs that go with the image show a creature that resembles an eel and has rows of teeth all over it, much like Pennywise from Stephen King’s horror classic “IT.”
To try and solve the mystery surrounding this unusual discovery, Miles joined a naturalists Facebook group in the hopes of learning more. Rather, the answers varied from satirical to fanciful, with many making comparisons to the famous sandworms from Frank Herbert’s groundbreaking novel “Dune.”
Marine experts have identified the creature as a sea lamprey, an ancient species of cartilaginous fish notorious for its bloodsucking tendencies. Growing to nearly four feet in length, these ocean dwellers latch onto larger fish and mammals with their tooth-covered disc, feeding on their blood and bodily tissue akin to the parasitic horrors of science fiction lore.
Although attacks on humans are rare, the Weather Network reports that encounters with sea lampreys can result in painful bites and that wounds left untreated run the risk of becoming infected. Like bloodsucking salmon, they migrate from saltwater to freshwater for spawning as part of their life cycle.
Experts attribute the decline in sea lamprey population in UK waters to various factors, including poor water quality and artificial barriers that impede their reproductive cycles.
Sea lampreys are an invasive species that pose serious threats to local ecosystems and native species in areas like the United States’ Great Lakes.
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