A FANGED monster pictured with no eyes which washed up on a beach after Hurricane Harvey has left experts scratching their heads.
The colossal creature was found rotting on a beach in Texas City after the megastorm which ravaged the southern US.
5The rotting corpse of the fanged monster was found washed up on a Texas beach after Hurricane HarveyCredit: Pen News/Preeti Desai
The mystery beast was discovered by conservation group the National Audubon Society who posted the startling snaps of the monster on social media.
The creature’s species still has not been confirmed although many experts believe it is a fangtooth snake-eel.
Preeti Desai, the National Audubon Society’s social media manager, spoke about finding the dead beast.
She said: “We were on a beach in Texas City and saw this thing from afar so I got closer to figure out what it was.
5Experts struggled to identify the beast which has sharp teeth and no eyesCredit: Pen News/Preeti Desai
5The beast is believed to be a fangtooth snake-eelCredit: Pen News/Preeti Desai
“I’ve already got a huge interest in wildlife, especially birds and ocean creatures, but it was so unexpected to see it there on the beach.
“On first glance it looked like something from the deep sea to me.
“My initial thought was it might be a sea lamprey but when I got close I realised there was no way that was what it was, particularly based on the mouth.
“We squished it around a bit, and even turned it over but couldn’t come up with any other ideas.”
After failing to identify the fish, Preeti posted the images on Twitter asking for help.
5The creature was found on a Texas beach in the aftermath of Hurricane HarveyCredit: Pen News/Preeti Desai
Snake eels are known for the long bodies and inhabit warmer waters. File pictureCredit: NHPA
She said: “This is the kind of thing that’s perfect for Twitter – there are so many scientists and researchers on the platform and they’re very willing to jump in and figure out things like this.
“So I put the photos out there and the guesses started coming in. One of the first few guesses suggested some sort of eel.
“I mentally smacked my forehead, because once that was suggested I could absolutely see the eel shape.
“But when I think of an eel, I think of it in the ocean, hiding amongst coral or rocks, so I hadn’t made the connection while I’d been on the beach.”
