Terrifying creature is spotted in West Wales river – but do YOU know what it is?
An expert coast finder has shared a photo of a prehistoric fish that frequents Britain’s rivers but looks like something you’d find in a horror movie.
Craig Evans, who has been organizing tours of the South West Wales coast for seven years, shared the stark photo on his Instagram page after spotting the multi-toothed creature on a fishing trip.
Evans told MailOnline that sea lampreys, believed to have been around for 340 million years, can grow up to two feet long and hunt larger fish, using their menacing grunts to suck their blood.
However, the ancient fish — also known as “vampire fish” — are short-lived, Evans says. “They spawn in May or June and die shortly after, days later.”
Yuck! A many-toothed sea lamprey photographed this week by Welsh coastal fisherman Craig Evans; he told MailOnline that the jawless fish have been around for “hundreds of millions of years.”
The fish is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world, including Portugal (Lampreira Marina), thanks to their eel-like texture, but Evans admitted after trying the “weak watery flesh” a few years ago, he’s glad he’ll never taste it again.
In his Instagram post this week, he shared how he had seen a dead sea lamprey while fishing for sea trout.
He told his followers: ‘I found this dead ‘Sea lamprey’ while fishing for sea trout in a river in West Wales. These wonders of nature spawn in fresh water, feeding on tiny algae and microorganisms until they migrate out to sea to prey on larger fish.
Craig, pictured with his dog Llew; he said he tried eating a sea lamprey a few years ago and admitted ‘never again’
In Portugal, the creatures are served as a delicacy known as
WHAT IS A SEA LART?
Vampirefish: Sea lampreys swim in fast-moving water without barriers
Sea lampreys are parasitic fish found along the coasts of North America, Europe and in the Great Lakes. They live in the sea until they are ready to spawn, after which they move upriver.
The lamprey attaches to other fish such as trout through suction and scrapes away tissue. Eventually the animal dies from blood loss or infection.
“Its terrifying beak attaches to the side of the fish and sucks it’s blood etc. This one was about two feet long and weighed about a pound.”
The creatures can only swim in fast-flowing water with no barriers and, says Craig, the only animals they’ll eat are otters — and even then, they’ll only dare to chew the “last few inches of its tail.”
Sea lampreys are parasitic and are most common along the coasts of North America, Europe and in the Great Lakes region.
They live in the sea until they are ready to spawn, after which they move upriver.
Evans, who is accompanied on his treks by his trusty dog Llew, says the ancient species of jawless fish are actually a sign of “a healthy ecosystem,” but admits such creatures have likely inspired more than a few sci-fi films.
The image generated a lot of reactions on social media.
One person joked, “That’s my nightmares sorted for tonight.”
Another wrote, “That looks terrifying,” while a shocked social media user added, “Wowzers!!! That’s a beast! I didn’t know these existed here! Incredible!’
Evans has appeared on screen with Michael Portillo and Mary Berry thanks to his expert knowledge of what lives around the Welsh coastline.