'It looks like a cut out tongue': Mystery creature washes up on a beach and leaves the internet baffled
- Mysterious tongue-like creature was found on a Perth beach at the weekend
- Facebook users speculate a wide range of theories as to what it actually is
- Aquatic Zoologist has final ruling stating that it's an 'ascidian or sea squirt'
Beach goers were left in disbelief at Perth's South Beach after the discovery of a sea creature which bears a striking resemblance to a human tongue.
The pink creature, which is about three inches in length, was even complete with taste bud-like markings on its surface.
After washing up in South Fremantle, one curious sun bather picked up the mysterious object and shared images of the discovery online, searching for its true identity.
Can you spot the difference? The sea creature shares an uncanny resemblance to a human tongue
The post caused quite a stir on social media as Facebook users speculated as to what the creature was.
One Facebook user commented: 'Ewww it really looks like a cut out tongue.'
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'The cow's tongue, must have been eaten by a shark,' another user suggested.
A different user went with: 'It looks like polished coral to me'.
A closer inspection of the creature shows it even has taste bud-like markings on its surface
Yet such theories were laid to rest as WA Museum Head of Aquatic Zoology Dr Jane Fromont identified the obscure creature.
'It is an ascidian or sea squirt,' she told WA Today.
'This particular specimen is a colonian ascidian- meaning that it has numerous individuals within the dark pink oval jelly casing seen in the image. Each little whitish flower like shape indicates an individual,' Dr Fromont said.
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