Beaches are often home to some of the most fascinating finds—many stroll along shorelines and suddenly discover something unusual.

Just like this Far North Queensland beachgoer who recently stumbled upon something so puzzling, that she needed help from others to identify it.

'Can anyone identify this for me?' she asked on a group on social media.

A woman asked for help identifying this creature she found at a beach in Far North of Queensland. Image source: Facebook.

What she found was a bright pink, worm-like object that left people scratching their heads and cracking science-fiction jokes online.

'It looks like an eel to me. No idea what kind though,' one person commented.

While another made a Stargate reference: 'Clearly, it's a Goa’uld Symbiote,' the commenter before agreeing that it was '…probably some sort of eel'.

Another user suggested the creature must have 'traveled through the wormhole to arrive in our strange land'.

While a fourth said in jest: 'Fukushima eel?'

Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts from the University of Queensland chimed in and said it was a Tripauchena—a blind goby fish.

'They tend to live in burrows which is why they lack pigment and have lots of blood to obtain oxygen, I think,' he explained.

'I do not have any references but many things that stay burrowed in mud must get as much [oxygen] as possible.'

Furthermore, an Ichthyologist from the Queensland Museum named Mr Jeff Johnson added: '[The] fish belongs to a group known as worm gobies.'

'[It] appears to be the Comb Goby, Paratrypauchen microcephalus.'

'These are burrowers that are found below the surface in muddy or fine, silty substrate,' Mr Johnson added.

'They are generally bright pink or red in colour as they have numerous fine blood vessels close to the surface of their bodies.'

'This allows them to absorb oxygen through their skin in an environment where it is difficult to obtain via their gills.'

Comb Gobies reportedly feed on small benthic crustaceans. Mr Johnson said this type of fish can be found 'across the northern half of Australia and as far south as Moreton Bay in Queensland'.

Key Takeaways

• A woman has found a colourful sea creature on a Far North Queensland beach and posted a picture online asking for help to identify it.
• This request led to many humorous responses, including references to eel species and Stargate.
• Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts from the University of Queensland said he believes the creature is a blind goby fish called a Tripauchena.
• Ichthyologist Jeff Johnson from the Queensland Museum believes the sea creature is a type of worm goby, known specifically as the Comb Goby, Paratrypauchen microcephalus, which typically burrows, and has special adaptations allowing it to absorb oxygen in environments with little oxygen.

Have you seen something equally ‘bizarre' at the beach? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Tygie]

Beaches are often home to some of the most fascinating finds—many stroll along shorelines and suddenly discover something unusual.

Just like this Far North Queensland beachgoer who recently stumbled upon something so puzzling, that she needed help from others to identify it.

'Can anyone identify this for me?' she asked on a group on social media.

View attachment 30138

A woman asked for help identifying this creature she found at a beach in Far North of Queensland. Image source: Facebook.

What she found was a bright pink, worm-like object that left people scratching their heads and cracking science-fiction jokes online.

'It looks like an eel to me. No idea what kind though,' one person commented.

While another made a Stargate reference: 'Clearly, it's a Goa’uld Symbiote,' the commenter before agreeing that it was '…probably some sort of eel'.

Another user suggested the creature must have 'traveled through the wormhole to arrive in our strange land'.

While a fourth said in jest: 'Fukushima eel?'

Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts from the University of Queensland chimed in and said it was a Tripauchena—a blind goby fish.

'They tend to live in burrows which is why they lack pigment and have lots of blood to obtain oxygen, I think,' he explained.

'I do not have any references but many things that stay burrowed in mud must get as much [oxygen] as possible.'

Furthermore, an Ichthyologist from the Queensland Museum named Mr Jeff Johnson added: '[The] fish belongs to a group known as worm gobies.'

'[It] appears to be the Comb Goby, Paratrypauchen microcephalus.'

'These are burrowers that are found below the surface in muddy or fine, silty substrate,' Mr Johnson added.

'They are generally bright pink or red in colour as they have numerous fine blood vessels close to the surface of their bodies.'

'This allows them to absorb oxygen through their skin in an environment where it is difficult to obtain via their gills.'

Comb Gobies reportedly feed on small benthic crustaceans. Mr Johnson said this type of fish can be found 'across the northern half of Australia and as far south as Moreton Bay in Queensland'.

Key Takeaways

• A woman has found a colourful sea creature on a Far North Queensland beach and posted a picture online asking for help to identify it.
• This request led to many humorous responses, including references to eel species and Stargate.
• Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts from the University of Queensland said he believes the creature is a blind goby fish called a Tripauchena.
• Ichthyologist Jeff Johnson from the Queensland Museum believes the sea creature is a type of worm goby, known specifically as the Comb Goby, Paratrypauchen microcephalus, which typically burrows, and has special adaptations allowing it to absorb oxygen in environments with little oxygen.

Have you seen something equally ‘bizarre' at the beach? Let us know in the comments below!

Haha love the Stargate reference!
i was thinking it was a axolotl crossed with a eel!

 

[Veggiepatch]

Haha love the Stargate reference!
i was thinking it was a axolotl crossed with a eel!

I can see the similarity.