New Zealand locals gobsmacked as large ‘alien’ log washes up on seaside

Kylie Morman got here throughout the attention-grabbing discovery on her morning stroll on Could 7 and stated it was each wonderful and gross on the identical time.

“It had worm-like tentacles and residing creatures within the shells.”

Making the discover much more intriguing was the size – at upwards of 5 metres lengthy and fully coated with the dreadlock-like creatures, the log was no small customer.

Anita Bethune additionally was intrigued by the invention, as have been different beachgoers who remarked on the ‘alien-like look of the log,’ and requested what it was.

Locals have been beneath the impression they have been an costly sea delicacy often called gooseneck barnacles, which a division of conservation spokesperson stated have been fairly frequent round New Zealand.

However do not plan the ceremonial dinner but.

The species is prone to be Lepas anatifera and is completely different from the kind of goose barnacle which is a typical delicacy in Portugal and Spain, the spokesperson stated.

Wilma Blom, marine invertebrate curator at Auckland Museum, stated the current persistent north easterlies had introduced them to our shores.

Blom confirmed these have been gooseneck barnacles, “in all probability Lepas anatifera. Sure, they’re eaten, notably by Mediterranean cultures. Nonetheless, I’ve by no means eaten them myself.”

The smaller crabs have been typically present in affiliation with gooseneck barnacles and likewise hooked up to flotsam and jetsam across the ocean.

Comparable washed up logs had baffled Auckland beachgoers just a few years earlier when the “alien-like” logs washed up at Piha seaside, surprising residents.