# Help ID this bizarre, creepy object found in Mesa, AZ (paging Colibri?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867 "2014-08-19T02:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/1 "2014-08-19T02:04:29Z")
[This](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/14964962695/) alien-looking object was found in Mesa, AZ. It was originally identified as the gall of a Urchin Wasp, but I think those are much too small - this was maybe 3" across. I’m assuming it’s natural, but I suppose it could be man-made. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/2 "2014-08-19T02:17:45Z")
Sorry, no idea. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/3 "2014-08-19T02:35:06Z")
I’m pretty sure that the left side of it is Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/4 "2014-08-19T02:47:20Z")
Flying Spaghetti Monster. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/5 "2014-08-19T02:58:59Z")
I agree that is creepy looking. I highly doubt it is alien though. Based on the fact you mentioned it was originally classified as a gall, I went to the page on Wikipedia for galls. Both of these types, [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knopper_gall) and [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriophyes_tiliae_tiliae) are freaky looking enough that I could see it being a really elaborate type of gall as well. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/6 "2014-08-19T03:01:24Z")
Was it just lying on the ground or was it attached to a plant or something? Is it floppy or stiff or somewhere in between, or what? It kinda looks like an internal organ from an alien. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/7 "2014-08-19T03:06:16Z")
Something related to Cedar Apple Rust? [![](http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/images/Pests/CedarApple_Rust615.jpg) ](http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/images/Pests/CedarApple_Rust615.jpg) [http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/rusts/cedar-apple-rust.aspx](http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/rusts/cedar-apple-rust.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/8 "2014-08-19T03:07:31Z")
I think its a spiky glove toy because of the uniform length of the spikes and the equal spacing. Like this : [http://www.thehalfling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/spikyglove.jpg](http://www.thehalfling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/spikyglove.jpg) or this [http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/561000494/TPR\_spiky\_gloves.jpg](http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/561000494/TPR_spiky_gloves.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/9 "2014-08-19T03:14:08Z")
We don’t really have any information about the texture. From the photo, it looks like the object doesn’t have the slightly rough texture of any of the natural objects suggested. The apparent finger holes, the size, and the smooth rubbery texture makes me think that a spiky glove toy is a good candidate, perhaps a fingerless one like[this.](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AbOBwO61L._SY445_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/10 "2014-08-19T03:20:44Z")
And now I see why you are the Curator of Critters! Makes way more sense than it being an alien. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/11 "2014-08-19T03:29:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > We don’t really have any information about the texture. From the photo, it looks like the object doesn’t have the slightly rough texture of any of the natural objects suggested. > > The apparent finger holes, the size, and the smooth rubbery texture makes me think that a spiky glove toy is a good candidate, perhaps a fingerless one like[this.](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AbOBwO61L._SY445_.jpg) I think that’s a good possibility! Nobody wanted to touch it, so it’s not around for positive ID. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/12 "2014-08-19T03:31:28Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > And now I see why you are the Curator of Critters! Makes way more sense than it being an alien. If I were Curator of Weird Freaky Toys I might have got it sooner, but **am77494** might be in the lead for that honor.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/13 "2014-08-19T03:32:51Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Nobody wanted to touch it, so it’s not around for positive ID. See, that’s what science is all about. I don’t want to think about some stuff I’ve touched.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/14 "2014-08-19T05:27:57Z")
Where did you find it? It looks wet, and the Salt River runs along side Mesa. I wish you’d taken a photo from the back as well as the front, since it appears to be different. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/15 "2014-08-19T05:30:00Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Where did you find it? It looks wet, and the Salt River runs along side Mesa. I wish you’d taken a photo from the back as well as the front, since it appears to be different. I’m actually posting this for a friend. I think they found it in their driveway, which is a long way from the Salt… ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/16 "2014-08-19T06:20:51Z")
Some rubber toy a dog chewed up and dropped while out on a walk. Makes sense if it was in a driveway. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/17 "2014-08-19T06:42:14Z")
Marital aid (batteries _not_ included). ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/18 "2014-08-19T06:51:33Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Some rubber toy a dog chewed up and dropped while out on a walk. Makes sense if it was in a driveway. This is the best guess I’ve heard so far. Check local supermarkets and pet stores and see if you can find a match; the companies that make dog chew toys love to make them weird looking, and an enthusiastic dog can tear all kinds of holes in soft plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-bizarre-creepy-object-found-in-mesa-az-paging-colibri/695867/19 "2014-08-19T07:01:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > We don’t really have any information about the texture. From the photo, it looks like the object doesn’t have the slightly rough texture of any of the natural objects suggested. > > The apparent finger holes, the size, and the smooth rubbery texture makes me think that a spiky glove toy is a good candidate, perhaps a fingerless one like[this.](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AbOBwO61L._SY445_.jpg) I think you’re right. It definitely looks more like synthetic rubber than anything biological.