Beachgoers in Laguna Niguel are perplexed by a strange aquatic animal that washed up on the coast on Saturday, and it has gone viral online. Despite its unattractive appearance, state wildlife officials think this hideous specimen is actually a common fish, specifically a moray eel.

Tim Daly, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said that what looks to be a moray eel is commonly spotted along the Southern California coast, confirming the unique observation that garnered rapid notice. Daly commented, “This one seems a bit bleached out from being deceased,” describing the creature’s pallor.

“It’s giving me nightmares,” said the original Reddit poster, who posted a picture of the unsettling discovery. ” Other commenters chimed in, likening the creature to an alien or even a plesiosaur, the legendary marine reptile that swam the oceans millions of years ago.

Despite their apparent lack of aggression, moray eels can turn savage if challenged. According to Britannica, these eels have two sets of jaws with teeth that face backward, making it difficult for their victims to get away once they are captured. It’s also interesting to note that moray eels have a remarkable historical role, especially in ancient Rome, where they were regarded as a delicacy.

Harvested from coastal ponds, the Mediterranean moray, or Muraena helena, was highly valued. Several scholarly accounts claim that famous Romans even lavished these eels with food. According to reports, Julius Caesar was given more than 6,000 morays for lavish feasts, and Augustus’s niece Antonia kept one as a pet and wore earrings on it.

The University of Chicago has documented tales of the famous Roman general Crassus, who similarly pampered his pet eel with jewelry and trained it to respond to its name, much like one would with a dog. When his beloved eel passed away, it was treated to a formal funeral.

But the moray eel that was discovered on the California shore had no ornamentation and most definitely didn’t seem to have been given a dignified send-off. Despite its eerie appearance, this misunderstood creature was identified thanks to the cooperation of wildlife experts and interested internet users.

“If the moon hits its eyes like a big pizza pie, that’s a Moray,” a Reddit user jokingly said. Even though this washed-up eel occasionally washes ashore in a less-than-glamorous state, the attraction around it serves as a reminder of the amazing and weird aquatic life that inhabits our oceans.