WATCH: "Alien-looking" crab with long appendage found walking FORWARDS on Lincolnshire beach
“Weird”, “alien” and “like a creature from Harry Potter” – these are some of the descriptions given to an unusual crab found on Mablethorpe beach.
Along with a threatening-looking long appendage, the crustacean also defied expectations by walking forwards – not the typical sideways motion of other crab species.
The footage and photos were taken by local resident Jacqui Thomson, who said this is the first time she has ever seen this type of crab on the beach.
"I am down the beach most evenings with my dog,” she said, “But I have never seen one before – it looks like an alien. I wasn’t brave enough to pick it up!”
Posting the footage to Facebook on June 19, other social media users commented on its strange appearance and walk.
One woman wrote: “It looks like a creature Hagrid would have. That sword thingy...” Another added: “I thought crabs walked sideways!”
Jacqui was later able to identify the creature as a ‘masked crab’ – also known as the helmet and sand crab.
While the species is native to UK waters – it is more common off western and southern shores of the British Isles. Despite this, the species is still regarded as elusive, given it lives buried in the sand and mudflats with just its long double-antennae protruding – used as a breathing tube. Quite diminutive in size, adults reach around 10cm in length and just 4cm in width, with the males sporting long claws.