3-Meter-Long 'Alien' Like Creature Washed up on Australian Beach, Marine Ecologists Confirm It Is Goose Barnacles

Social media users were astounded watching the viral videos of an "alien" creature that washed ashore in Australia. Several people saw a three-meter-long mass of translucent stalks at Horseshoe Bay in Port Elliot around October, and shared pictures of it online, Daily Mail reported.

The pictures produced a wide array of reactions, with several suspecting it to be from outer space. After analysis, it was discovered that the 'alien' was no extraterrestrial being but goose barnacles.

The 'alien' like thing was located by a woman while walking her dog, Daily Mail reported. Residents likened the object to 'vermicelli' with 'shells' on the end of each strand.

Vicki Evans uploaded pictures of it with the caption, "Over 26 years walking Horseshoe Bay - I’ve never seen anything quite like this before! Nature never ceases to amaze!" on Facebook.

While Evans was charmed by the object, several others had different reactions. One local called it the "freakiest thing" they had ever laid eyes on. Many also observed "brown creatures moving in and out of them."

The strange-looking thing was eventually revealed to be goose barnacles, a species of communal crustacean that attaches itself to floating objects, the New York Post reported. Experts were shocked to see them in this state.

The University of South Australia marine ecologist, Dr. Zoe Doubleday, suspects that this colony somehow broke off from the mothership and floated to Horseshoe Bay. 

"I’ve never seen anything like it, and it just must be an old pylon from a jetty or some piece of marine infrastructure that has been in the water for such a long time to grow a dense cluster of barnacles," Doubleday said, the New York Post reported. "It’s been there for a long time." Talking about the organism's anatomy, she stated that even though they may appear to resemble oysters and clams, they are more connected to lobsters and crabs. 

Goose barnacles are considered to be a delicacy, especially in countries like Portugal and Spain, where they are served with butter, the New York Post reported. The creatures are very expensive to feast on and reportedly sell for $125 a pound in the market.