A terrifying sea creature that looked like it had crawled out of a nightmare recently washed up on a beach in Southern California.

Its appearance was so unsettling that photos shared on Reddit were tagged as not safe for work.The person who posted the images said they discovered the lifeless marine animal near Dana Point, California. Thanks to the detailed photos and location, online sleuths were able to identify the bizarre-looking creature.Tim Daly, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told SFGATE that the creature appears to be a dead moray eel, though its pale appearance is likely due to decomposition.

Reddit / ZJM

Moray eels are not uncommon in the coastal waters of Southern California, where they dwell among reefs in shallow areas. While not venomous or typically aggressive, they do pose a threat if provoked, with two rows of razor-sharp teeth ready to bite.Reddit users didn’t miss the chance to add some humor to the eerie find, riffing on the classic Dean Martin song:“That’s a moray. Go back tonight to confirm. If the moon hits its eyes like a big pizza pie, that’s a moray,” one commenter joked.Another added, “When the jaws open wide, and there’s more jaws inside, that’s a moray…”While the internet had fun with it, one thing’s for sure—this is not a creature you’d want to come face-to-face with in the ocean.