'Sea monster's' skeletal remains discovered on West beach | Western Morning News
A family were left baffled after discovering this weird "sea monster" washed up on a local beach.
Lisa Worthington, 42, came across the denizen of the deep while out walking the family dog with husband, Peter, 52, and their two children.
The two-foot long skeletal remains were found on the high tide mark on the beach in Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset.
The family decided to take the mysterious two foot skeleton home so that her ten-year-old son Tyler could show his friends.
Lisa, from Uphill, near Bristol, said: "It was really quite strange. We were just walking the dogs when we stumbled across it. It was very strange.
"People have come up with some crazy ideas as to what it could be. My friend even thought it could be a llama, as the long tail-y bit looks like a neck.
"I guess with it being washed up on the beach you would expect it to be a fish or something, but it doesn't look very fishy.
"My son was fascinated by it. I've definitely not seen anything like it before. He wanted to take it to school for show and tell.
"He carried it home in a big carrier bag. It absolutely stinks now though. I've told him he's going to have to get rid of it."
The family posted an image of the skeleton on Facebook where speculation grew about what the creature could be.
Some suggested the animal was a lizard or swan whilst others claimed it was some kind of large fish or stingray.
Marine biologist Steve Simpson, said: "This is certainly nothing I have seen before."
Other deep sea creature experts said that it was likely the skeleton was that of a thornback ray.
Shelby Temple, a professor a Bristol University, said: "I think that is the remains of a thornback ray (Raja clavata).
"They are fairly common on muddy/sandy substrates around the UK and Europe.
"The photos certainly make it look like a weird deep sea creature. You wouldn't want to inadvertently step on that tail!"
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