Hundreds of bizarre 'penis fish' have washed up on a beach on the British coast.
Experts believe the phallic creatures, known as fat innkeeper worms, were forced out of their underwater burrows and dumped on Exmouth Beach after the recent downpours.
The beach was covered with the pink worms - which can grow to almost a foot long - as seagulls scooped them up from the sands.
One dog walker told Devon Live : "We walked along the beach from the Clock Tower to the lifeboat station and there were hundreds of them. They were all over the beach.
"This morning there were even more of them, but this time I could only see them between the Harbour View Cafe and the Clock Tower.
"What worried me most of all was if there were dangerous to dogs, although mine didn't take much notice of them.
"I do remember seeing something like it once before a few years back, but I never thought much of it as there weren't many.
"I read a story last week about 'penis fish' being washed up in California and the reason given was storms. We have had quite high onshore winds for the last week or more so that is probably the reason why we are seeing them.
"I would like to know for sure what they are."
A picture of the strange creature has been posted on Exmouth Community Facebook page to see if anyone knows what they might be.
The post said: "It might look like a seahorse, but they are not all like the one shown."
Among the suggestions given have been sea cucumbers, salps and urechis unicinctus - known as the fat innkeeper worm or Chinese penis fish, and is a species of marine spoon worm.
The creatures dig U-shaped burrows within beaches or mudflats. The tunnels are left behind for other sea life to move in, hence its "innkeeper" name.
'Penis fish' are a delicacy in East Asia, where they are eaten raw with salt and sesame oil, grilled or stir-fried with vegetables, and they are also used as fishing bait.
After a storm hit California earlier this month, the creatures were spotted on beaches there .
The worms can grow to almost a foot long. Seagulls scoop them up from the sands and gobble them down their gullets.
