Strange Creature in the Persian Gulf?

O.K...

I couldn't find anything else about these pics on the interwebs. Looks like a decomposed whale to me. Suggestions?









Apologies if it's already been posted.

Linky

IRM

Looks like a type of giant ray to me. Decomposing of course.

There are tons of different types of rays in the ocean, it could take hours to pour over all of these photos to find the right match.

If anyone has a database of rays from specifically that region, this may aid in simplifying the search process.

Hmm can a ray even get this big? Any experts know?

(I am trying to go with something other than whale since that was already mentioned as a possibility, which the size seems to indicate).

I thought octopus at first glance but not certain now.

reply to post by muzzleflash


Do manta rays have a backbone like a mamal?

IRM

The reason I said Ray was because of the serrated spines on the dorsal to posterior.
Is there even a whale with a feature like this?

I checked some sharks and I cannot find anything similar.
Could this be an aspect of decomposition where the spinal column becomes visible?

Do we know If it was alive or dead? was it moving?
Did anyone eat it to see what it tasted like?

reply to post by InfaRedMan


Yes, fish have backbones.

An octopus mabey

That looks like a giant skate!

Here's a pic of the normal one's I have caught of the pier..





Here's the largest skate article that I could find on short notice..

www.dailymail.co.uk...

No where near the size of the OP pics, but posting for reference..

Originally posted by InfaRedMan
reply to post by muzzleflash

 

Do manta rays have a backbone like a mamal?

IRM

There are probably hundreds of variants of rays if not more. Many do have features like this, but I have never seen one that huge.

They do have a vertebrate because they are technically fish.

I am just throwing it out there not because I think it's true, but because I wanted to spice the discussion up with something "alternative".
You are right though it is highly unlikely due to size even if extremely bloated. The length of the creature is more like a whale.

Here's a Manta ray skeleton.




.. and a Stingray




IRM

reply to post by wtbengineer


Derp! I'm aware of that. In my opinion, it looks more mammalian.. That's all I'm saying.

IRM

Decomposing blue whale, that's what it looks like to me but I could be wrong.

reply to post by Nuke2013


I agree. I think the blubber is flapping to the sides giving it a ray-like shape.


IRM

Originally posted by InfaRedMan
reply to post by wtbengineer

 

Derp! I'm aware of that. In my opinion, it looks more mammalian.. That's all I'm saying.

IRM

Aside of the size of the creature, what other aspects do you sense are mammalian in nature?
If you don't mind my inquisition.

Originally posted by Nuke2013
Decomposing blue whale, that's what it looks like to me but I could be wrong.

Possibly, after a quick Google it confirms that Blue Whales and Whale Sharks are both commonly spotted in the Gulf.

So this is probably within the realm of the most likely explanation.
95%+ chance

reply to post by muzzleflash


None that I can see. Just the weight of that backbone suggests it's carrying a lot of mass along it's whole length. A whale would be the most likely candidate. Of course I'm no marine biologist.

IRM

Originally posted by muzzleflash

Originally posted by Nuke2013
Decomposing blue whale, that's what it looks like to me but I could be wrong.

Possibly, after a quick Google it confirms that Blue Whales and Whale Sharks are both commonly spotted in the Gulf.

So this is probably within the realm of the most likely explanation.
95%+ chance

Totally!

IRM

pandasthumb.org...

farm5.static.flickr.com...

Look at the color transformation in this decomposing Blue whale:
www.beloblog.com...


Bone structure of a Blue whale. The vertebrae look kind of the same, no ?

reply to post by InfaRedMan


Understood IRM...