A rare sea creature shaped like a toothbrush baffled beachgoers.

Locals spotted the long skinny marine animal swimming near the shore in Hainan, China, on August 23. A fin on its tail resembled the bristles of a brush.

Footage shows the purple fish floating in the crystal-clear water. Moments later, a man used a pair of tongs to grab the animal, causing it to thrash wildly and reveal its long, sharp snout.

Fishermen later identified the creature as a houndfish. Many seafarers are afraid of the fish due to their tendency to leap out of the water and cause puncture wounds with their bills.

There have been multiple houndfish attack incidents. In 2000, a teenager was stabbed in the neck by the species. In 1999, a fisherman in Malaysia was killed when a 4ft houndfish jumped from the ocean and stabbed him through the lung.