On May 21st, it was reported that an unknown creature with a "two-meter skeleton" washed up on a beach in Wenchang, Hainan. Due to its highly decomposed state and strong odor, its true identity could not be determined. Upon initial inspection by local fisheries authorities, it was tentatively identified as fish remains, but the species could not be recognized. Subsequent harmless disposal procedures have been carried out.
From videos circulating online, the decomposed creature no longer resembles its original form, with its skeleton fully exposed. From the head, it does indeed resemble a whale-like creature. Speculations from netizens suggest that this carcass may have been washed ashore by the waves several days ago.
The true identity of the creature remains a mystery. Local fishermen suggested it could be a leopard shark, also known as a zebra shark, belonging to the catshark family. These fish are commonly found in warm waters near the seabed in regions such as Indonesia, the western coast of Kyushu in Japan, the southwestern coast of Korea, and the South China Sea and southern East China Sea.
Interestingly, some netizens in the comments section jokingly claimed, "Case solved, it's a sea bull," sparking confusion among those who searched for this non-existent animal.
The mention of a "sea bull" is actually an internet meme originating from a Spanish pun. It originated from a humorous dubbing of a weather forecast news clip where the female presenter accidentally falls. To enhance the comedic effect, netizens added a Spanish-sounding phrase "¡Marica, el bull!" (similar to "Oh, my goodness!"), even though the original video had no sound.
If there were an animal in the ocean that somewhat resembles a bull, it would be the dugong, also known as the "sea cow" or "mermaid." In China, it is a nationally protected species and listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Let's hope the discovery does not involve this species.
