Straight from your nightmares, this unidentified object washed up on Muriwai Beach, New Zealand and was posted on Facebook Friday. Photo: Melissa Doubleday/ Facebook
Ever taken a morning stroll on the beach and encountered an object reminiscent of childhood nightmares? No? Well, for locals of Muriwai Beach an unidentified object that appears to be covered in seaweed and barnacles recently washed up on the sand, and it looks totally like some kind of oceanic monster.
News of the mystery object began making the rounds after local resident Melissa Doubleday posted about it in a community Facebook group.
“Just curious to know if anyone knows what this is??! Washed up on Muriwai Beach,” said Doubleday.
Visitors and residents have reportedly been venturing down to take photos of the object, that’s now being called the “Muriwai Monster.”
The The New Zealand Marine Sciences Society told Stuff that they were, “almost positive from looking at the images that it was a piece of driftwood covered in what are known as gooseneck barnacles.”
Experts are “almost positive” the object is a piece of driftwood covered in seaweed and Gooseneck barnacles. Photo: Melissa Doubleday/ Facebook
Gooseneck barnacles are a delicacy in Spain and Portugal, sometimes fetching over 100 euros per kilo. Local residents, though, are focused on the smell. “Yesterday afternoon it was just dry and smelly,” Doubleday told Mashable. Doesn’t sound too appetizing.
