Click for video - Weird alien-like creature spotted in Bristol harbour or cut/paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6-yYqsCDhA&feature=youtu.be
Experts say a glowing squid-like creature swimming in Bristol harbour could be a jellyfish or marine salp.
Stunned eyewitnesses filmed the strange, luminescent, tentacled object which was flashing a variety of colours.
Videos of the strange marine mystery in Bristol docks have popped up on Youtube and Twitter with many claiming to have seen an "alien".
Dr Steve Simpson, from the School of Biological Sciences at Bristol University, said: "It's very intriguing - I don't really know what to make of it.
"There is a possibility that it is a special type of jellyfish or a marine salp. It's very unusual and I haven't really seen anything like it before though.
"What makes it even more unusual is that fact that it showed up in the middle of a really busy area.
"There are various marine animals that have biological illuminating abilities and they are able to make themselves flash.
"It is entirely possible that it is a marine creature which has been brought into the harbour because of the storms or maybe it was trying to shelter from the stormy seas.
"We are currently experiencing spring tides too which may have dragged whatever this is in from the sea.
"This is either a very interesting animal or someone's very cool interpretation of a marine creature.
"It looks really cool - it's incredible. I don't know if it will make a return tonight but I'm sure if it does it will be met by an eager crowd."
It has not yet been established exactly what the creature was and whether it was alive or not.
Some people have suggested that Bristol legend Banksy may have had something to do with the weird object.
Dozens of people were left flummoxed after spotting the creature and quickly grabbed cameras to snap it.
Alex Gordon-Lennox, 22, who was one of the many people to witness the strange creature, said: "It was just floating down the harbour. I've never seen anything like it before.
"I only noticed it because it was flashing and was so bright. I was out with some friends that night so we watched it travel down the water a bit and then it just seemed to disappear.
"It looked a bit like a jellyfish or a squid or something. It was amazing." Read more at Unusual Bristol harbour creature could have been a jellyfish or marine salp, say experts
NOTE: P&M reader Barry brought this to my attention. The Bristol Harbour (Bristol city in south west England) receives tidal surges from the Severn Estuary into the River Avon. The fact that the 'being' went dark so quickly tends to raise some doubts as to the nature of the anomaly. Not sure what to make of this one...Lon
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