Pushed in the surf, a slimy 3" long bag. Is it a sea creature or a plastic toy? If creature, what is it? Video taken at about 8 a.m. on 2007-07-28, between One Seagrove and Eastern Lake on the Gulf of Mexico beach. The "thing" is about 3 inches long. See it here:
http://wholeo.net/Trips/Travel/Florida/srb/movies/seaThing.html
(Requires Flash 9 to view. The page has a link to get it.) I tried uploading this movie to youTube three times. It came out the wrong proportion each time so I gave up and just put it on my website.
Replies
16
Beach Fanatic
Looks like a blow fish to me.
bean
First thought, puffer fish. Is a puffer fish the same as a blowfish? I think maybe.
http://www.saltwater-fish-tanks.com/gg_data/images/7/angry-puffer-fish-2.jpg
http://www.saltwater-fish-tanks.com/gg_data/images/7/angry-puffer-fish-2.jpg
Edited
SoWal Expert
Puffer Fish
I saw a couple of them washed up onto the beach after the storms in 2005.
Beach Fanatic
Looks amazing but not sure I would want to see one whilst swimming!
SoWal Expert
Looks amazing but not sure I would want to see one whilst swimming!I think they are about the cutest fish I've ever seen. They do look like a toy.
Skunky
You couldn't have voodoo zombies without them;-)
Beach FanaticAuthor
Wikipedia says they are toxic. Since they are cute and look like a toy, I'm surprised I haven't heard warnings about not touching them. But maybe they aren't that common here. I'm still not convinced that what I saw wasn't a very good reproduction of a fish. But I wasn't about to pick it up to investigate. Thanks for all the replies!
Edited
Beach Fanatic
I think they are about the cutest fish I've ever seen. They do look like a toy.
SJ: a softie like you liking a prickly pointy fish????? But I must say that pic you attached is kinda cute!
Moderator
Wikipedia says they are toxic.
The toxins have to be ingested. There isn't any danger related to touching them. Japanese Sushi Chefs use puffers to create a type of Sashimi called Fugu. Due to the trace amounts of the toxin in the muscle the Fugu is said to make your lips tingle.
All I can say is I'm not eating it...
Consider me a font of useless knowledge!
Edited
SoWal Guide
The toxins have to be ingested. There isn't any danger related to touching them. Japanese Sushi Chefs use puffers to create a type of Sashimi called Fugu. Due to the trace amounts of the toxin in the muscle the Fugu is said to make your lips tingle.
All I can say is I'm not eating it...
Consider me a font of useless knowledge!
okay singinchicken, we will (consider you a font of useless knowledge). just keep sharing it with us, okay? its great stuff.Beach Fanatic
Forget fugu for me too. Thanks for tellin' us singinchicken. I 
this board. 
this board. 
SoWal Expert
Puffer Fish
I saw a couple of them washed up onto the beach after the storms in 2005.
I saw these at Movies by the Sea. They have the best selection of toy fish and sea creatures!
hmmmm......can't remember
According to Finding Nemo, a blowfish is both a sea creature AND a toy:
SoWal Expert
Here is what one looks like after sitting on the beach for too long in the hot July sun. I took this photo in Dune Allen. Somewhere in my collection of photos, I have one of a Puffer Fish some kids caught (alive) in Grayton. It was in a blue bucket for a while, and I about never convinced them to let it go.
hmmmm......can't remember
Ewwwww!
Beach FanaticAuthor
Here is what one looks like after sitting on the beach for too long in the hot July sun.
Thanks for the photo! This is convincing. Especially the eye, which I thought looked too perfect. I guess that's how they come.
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