A huge skeletal hand has been found on a beach.

Leticia Gomes Santiago, and her boyfriend Devanir Souza, were strolling along the shoreline when they stumbled upon it.

It was found on the sands in Ilha Comprida, São Paulo State, Brazil, on 20 November.

Shocked, Leticia said: “We think it is not human because of the size and amount of bones.

“What could it possibly be?”

The couple filmed it and she placed her flip-flop next to the eerie hand with long boney fingers to show its large size.

She added: “It's very big.

“We don't know what animal it is, and if it's an alien, even worse.”

One local joked: “Looks like ET's hand.”

A second: “[It’s a] Mermaid's hand!”

“Might as well be a Dinosaur bone!”

A third added: “Take it to a biologist, because this isn't normal.”

But marine biologist Eric Comin said the skeletal hand belonged to a cetacean - an aquatic mammal that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Although further tests would be needed to determine exactly which one.

Based on the images and state of decomposition, the biologist said the cetacean probably died at sea around 18 months ago.

Due to its size, Comin said the bones probably belonged to a dolphin, especially as they are commonly found in the region.

The biologist added that anyone who finds animal remains on the beach should notify the region’s environmental agency, the Cananéia Research Institute (IPEC).

IPEC spokesperson Henrique Chupill, who also said that the skeleton probably belongs to a cetacean, stated: “We always prioritise leaving the bones on the beach so it does not interfere with the cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem.

“Eventually, when there is some scientific interest, we collect them to be used in studies. If they are recently-deceased animals, we collect them to perform necropsies and identify the cause of death.”

A huge skeletal hand which it feared could have belonged to an ALIEN has been found on a beach.

Leticia Gomes Santiago, and her boyfriend Devanir Souza, were strolling along the shoreline when they stumbled upon it.

It was found on the sands in Ilha Comprida, São Paulo State, Brazil, on 20 November.

Shocked, Leticia said: “We think it is not human because of the size and amount of bones.

“What could it possibly be?”

The couple filmed it and she placed her flip-flop next to the eerie hand with long boney fingers to show its large size.

She added: “It's very big.

“We don't know what animal it is, and if it's an alien, even worse.”

One local joked: “Looks like ET's hand.”

A second: “[It’s a] Mermaid hand!”

“Might as well be a Dinosaur bone!”

A third added: “Take it to a biologist, because this isn't normal.”

But marine biologist Eric Comin said the skeletal hand belonged to a cetacean - an aquatic mammal that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Although further tests would be needed to determine exactly which one.

Based on the images and state of decomposition, the biologist said the cetacean probably died at sea around 18 months ago.

Due to its size, Comin said the bones probably belonged to a dolphin, especially as they are commonly found in the region.

The biologist added that anyone who finds animal remains on the beach should notify the region’s environmental agency, the Cananéia Research Institute (IPEC).

IPEC spokesperson Henrique Chupill, who also said that the skeleton probably belongs to a cetacean, stated: “We always prioritise leaving the bones on the beach so it does not interfere with the cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem.

“Eventually, when there is some scientific interest, we collect them to be used in studies. If they are recently-deceased animals, we collect them to perform necropsies and identify the cause of death.”

ENDS

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