What IS this thing we found on the beach?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

While taking one of our many low tide walks along the shores of Marco Island in SW Florida in search of more wonderful seashells we found a creature. I took some pictures of it and have been looking for information on it. No dice.

I took 4 pictures of the creature. 2 came out good enough to share, 2 are horrible but give more of an idea of the bulbous head of the animal. I can share them by e-mail if anyone has any particular interest. It did not appear to have any gills. It did appear to have "arms" that ended in flippers.

If you need to see the images in a larger format they are in my album on the site photoserver.

Can anyone solve my mystery?

[Holly Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Holly]

It's a SQUID

I'm pretty sure.

[Guest Close Quarterbore]

I am not a fish expert but I am pretty confident it is a fish and I think it may be a type of flounder.

If not, it sure looks like some type of bottom feeder like the flounder.

Oh yea, here are the larger images:

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I think it's an ugly fish that is sometimes called a sea robin.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

OMG, it's Frank !
He sleeps with the fishes....................

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

OMG, it's Frank !
He sleeps with the fishes....................

And we thought Frank went to Europe!

[Guest Close Quarterbore]

I think it's an ugly fish that is sometimes called a sea robin.

I think you are correct... or at least a close cousin

I had to laugh when I found this pic:

[kapish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close kapish]

I think you are correct... or at least a close cousin

I had to laugh when I found this pic:

It is not Frank... there is no cigar

[Holly Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Holly]

Yea, the closeups help...not a squid. Look at his tail though...

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

OMG, it's Frank !
He sleeps with the fishes....................

kapish Quote:


It is not Frank... there is no cigar

Well, whatever it is, it sure is fugly!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I think you are correct... or at least a close cousin

I had to laugh when I found this pic:

Here's a more accurate version. IMHO - The likeness in uncanny.

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

My 9yr old reckons it looks a bit like a mudskipper.

[JudyS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JudyS]

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm concerned that it may be a worshipper of Cthulhu!

My 9yr old reckons it looks a bit like a mudskipper.

Lawren, was this thing alive? If it was, then it presumably was some sort of amphibian, or an amphibious fish. A flounder or other deep-sea fish certainly couldn't survive on the beach. I just looked up mudskippers and they look like what you saw; they are amphibious fish.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Here's a more accurate version. IMHO - The likeness in uncanny.

Now the little guy resembles Frank. You did that very nicely with Photoshop most likely. Frank will like it when he sees this, when he comes back.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm concerned that it may be a worshipper of Cthulhu! Lawren, was this thing alive? If it was, then it presumably was some sort of amphibian, or an amphibious fish. A flounder or other deep-sea fish certainly couldn't survive on the beach. I just looked up mudskippers and they look like what you saw; they are amphibious fish.

You guys are really too funny! Poor Frank leaves us for Europe and you turn him into a FISH!

I am really glad it is not a squid or flounder. I don't think I could continue to eat them. This thing was just that fugly. It kind of reminded me of a puffer but the body was wrong. Judy maybe you are right and it was a mudskipper.

I don't think it was alive but the birds had no interest in it, yet.

I have found a Florida Fish and Wildlife Research website that ASKS for odd or rare things to be sent. Hopefully THEY will tell us what it is.

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute