Unusual discoveries can spark curiosity, especially when they appear in the most unexpected places.

One Sydney homeowner was left puzzled after finding a strange, alien-like object floating in her backyard pool.

What seemed like an eerie mystery soon turned into a fascinating insight into local wildlife.

A Sydney homeowner was left stunned after discovering a bizarre, alien-like object floating in her backyard pool.

The woman, who lived in South Turramurra near Lane Cove National Park, shared a photo of the unusual find online, hoping someone could identify it.

Locals quickly chimed in, with some initially mistaking the object for a strange seed pod or even a creature with teeth.

Bizarre pool discovery leaves Aussie baffled. Image source: Reddit

‘Ew. Where is that wombat girl when she’s needed?’ one person joked.

‘Looks like a mutated Golden Gaytime,’ another wrote.

‘I thought it had teeth,’ a third said.

While some remained baffled, others instantly recognised the object as the discarded tail of a southern leaf-tailed gecko.

This species, native to the Sydney basin, has a unique defence mechanism where it drops its tail when threatened, allowing it to escape while the severed limb twitches to distract predators.

‘Those little white bits are separated muscle tissues that are specially evolved for dropping the tail,’ one person explained.

The geckos, which grow up to 15 cm long, blend into their environment with their brown-grey mottled scales, making them difficult to spot in the wild.

Other lizards, including skinks, use the same survival tactic to evade birds and predators.

‘There’s a gecko with a good story out there somewhere,’ one person quipped.

The woman’s home, which backed onto the national park, was the perfect habitat for these reptiles, as they typically reside in urban areas with sandstone heath.

While the discovery initially caused confusion, it ultimately became a fascinating reminder of the wildlife thriving in suburban Sydney.

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In a previous story, a tradie was left scratching his head after stumbling upon an unexpected surprise under a client’s vehicle.

His unusual discovery had Aussies both laughing and guessing what it could be.

Read more about the bizarre find that had everyone talking.

Key Takeaways

• A Sydney homeowner found a strange, alien-like object floating in her pool.
• Locals joked about its appearance before it was identified as a gecko’s discarded tail.
• Southern leaf-tailed geckos drop their tails to escape predators, leaving the limb twitching as a distraction.
• The discovery highlighted the presence of native wildlife in suburban Sydney.

Have you ever stumbled upon something strange in your backyard and had no idea what it was? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

 

[deni67]

It kind of looks like a sea cucumber to me.

 

[Wandiwa]

Without a reference, you cannot judge it's size.
Might be tiny or very large or anywhere inbetween.