# What the hell is this...thing (creature) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656 "2010-04-28T19:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/1 "2010-04-28T19:26:28Z")
I assume the thing at the link below is real but the (very short and in Spanish) article does not know either. Any ideas? Warning…this thing is quite creepy. [http://www.dogguie.com/criatura-alienigena-horrenda-y-asquerosa/](http://www.dogguie.com/criatura-alienigena-horrenda-y-asquerosa/) ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/2 "2010-04-28T19:43:17Z")
Looks like a sea mouse, a type of disgusting worm that looks like a cross between a slug and a drowned rodent. I’ve seen the odd one or two in UK waters, about half the size of the ones in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/3 "2010-04-28T19:45:07Z")
That night in the lab, Dr. Ramirez spilled radioactive waste on his toupee… ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/4 "2010-04-28T19:46:31Z")
Does this mean that Donald Trump is bald now? ---
**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:** [April 28, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/5 "2010-04-28T19:46:42Z")
It’s a [sea mouse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_mouse), a kind of polychaete worm. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/6 "2010-04-28T19:50:07Z")
from the link: > [@](#): > > Its scientific name is taken from Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love. This is because, when viewed ventrally, the sea mouse **resembles a human female’s genitalia**. They may grow up to 20 cm and are active carnivores Bolding mine. I’m not quite seeing it – are they saying that this thing looks like a living merkin? I’m pretty sure it’s saying that it’s the sea mouse that’s carnivorous. I hope so, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/7 "2010-04-28T19:55:25Z")
I have to say that it would look more creepy without the giggling girls _petting_ it. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/8 "2010-04-28T20:09:06Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’m not quite seeing it – are they saying that this thing looks like a living merkin? Dorsally, yes… but it’s the ventral (underside) that has the distinctive, ummm, vertically-smiling shape. [Better picture here](http://content4.eol.org/content/2009/02/02/19/60712_large.jpg). Personally, that thing looks like a Ceti Eel. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/9 "2010-04-28T20:25:32Z")
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The ocean is _horrifying_!! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/10 "2010-04-28T20:31:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: > > The ocean is horrifying!! > [@](#): > > The very deep did rot: O Christ! > That ever this should be! > Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs > Upon the slimy sea. – Coleridge _The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (part 2)_ ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/11 "2010-04-28T20:38:15Z")
Active carnivore? Looks like female genitalia? :: Paging Sephen King! Paging Stephen King! :: :: wanders off humming [‘vagina dentata’](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8025459&postcount=41) :: ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/12 "2010-04-28T20:44:54Z")
eew, my hoohaa looks NOTHING like that :(:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/13 "2010-04-28T20:49:09Z")
Yeah, that looks to me like proof that marine biologists can’t get dates. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/14 "2010-04-28T22:08:04Z")
You guys didn’t [browse that page enough](http://www.dogguie.com/curiosa-torta-de-alien/)! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/15 "2010-04-28T22:22:25Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > You guys didn’t [browse that page enough](http://www.dogguie.com/curiosa-torta-de-alien/)! :eek: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! _runs screaming from the thread_ ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/16 "2010-04-28T22:28:38Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > You guys didn’t [browse that page enough](http://www.dogguie.com/curiosa-torta-de-alien/)! :eek: Surely those are props from _Alien._ ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/17 "2010-04-28T22:29:16Z")
That’s a cake. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/18 "2010-04-28T22:37:11Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: > > The ocean is _horrifying_!! Boy, no kidding. Let’s not forget [this critter](http://www.flickr.com/photos/42561499@N00/4461958753/), the subject of its own thread a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/19 "2010-04-28T22:51:43Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I assume the thing at the link below is real but the (very short and in Spanish) article does not know either. > > Any ideas? Warning…this thing is quite creepy. > > [http://www.dogguie.com/criatura-alienigena-horrenda-y-asquerosa/](http://www.dogguie.com/criatura-alienigena-horrenda-y-asquerosa/) :eek: I don’t know. Isn’t the important thing to figure out where it came from so that all other specimens of the species can be killed with fire? It is not necessary to kill the people who have touched it. Chopping their hands off should be enough. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656/20 "2010-04-28T23:39:46Z")
> [@](#): > > No tengo idea de qué animal es… parece un erizo marino, o una especie de oruga gigante I’m curious as to what they’re speculating it is in the article. Unfortunately, I don’t know what erizo or oruga mean, so all I get it “I have no idea what this animal is…perhaps a marine or a species of giant .” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-this-thing-creature/537656.md?page=2)