Talk of The Villages Florida - Need help - saw this creature on golf course>

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- - Need help - saw this creature on golf course> (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/need-help-saw-creature-golf-course-326826/)

They walk at night all over the golf courses

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I'm the OP - to the folks here that identified and answered. THANKS! It was irritating me that Google did not ID what I searched for... but never thought to use "armor". And I was kicking myself for not bringing it home...in case it was a 1 in 1 million find.

THIS is what ToTV is the best at. Providing information/answer in many cases. This was one of them.

Again, THANKS!
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Maybe 4 years ago I found something very similar on one of the bike trails. It appeared to be some kind of fish that had dried out from the sun. It was at least a hundred yards from water? My thoughts at the time were maybe some kind of bird had just dropped it.

That’s a type of Catfish, I think they call it Armoured Catfish! When it rains they can get out through the drains as I rescued one and took it to a lake and it swam of happily! I always carry a towel just in case !

Quote:

Originally Posted by sail33or (Post 2035050)

Yes, it looks like a monk fish. Probably interesting story on how it got here. Fish Market, Restaurant, etc.

:icon_wink: Maybe the "Fish Friar" put it there.....:jester:

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanFL (Post 2034936)

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Weird and unusual find on Marshview golf course yesterday. Between the 5th & 6th hole, this creature was about 10' between the path and a small pond. Spotted it and ????

I picked it up, turned it over and moved it closer to the path. Never saw anything like this in my life. It was about 14" long and 5" wide. All the 'insides' were picked clean. The remnants were very hard and was like a thin shell. Spiny vertebrae, along with a tail and fins. The shell, in the front had side holes for the eyes and nostrils. When I turned it over it seemed lobster-like with the shell extending a bit underneath.

If I was alone, I would have taken it with me to examine a bit more - but the ladies were scorning me for picking it up, and said "yuck" 8 times. Did take some pics. Home and googled for shell-like fish etc etc. NOTHING came up. I believe that a bird got it somewhere else, and flew/carried it to The Villages where it dropped it.

As I said - weird. Anyone have thoughts?
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Get in touch with a marine biologist in the nearest university. Send them the photos and or store the animal for later use if possible. Please let us know the outcome. Thank you.

It appears to be a zombie fish. The only way to kill a zombie fish is a spike or knife through the brain. They will attack you and suck your brain out if you are not careful. It's the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.

Betcha a buck it's a "walking (or armored) catfish!"

This is not a joke. This prehistoric-looking critter infests many of our ponds, and actually "walks" on its elongated pectoral fins. For proof, Google images of "armored catfish." My guess that an eagle grabbed him, dropped him, and other wildlife enjoyed an unconventional Thanksgiving meal...

You can see these all the time at the Fenney springs. My friend Sam photographed these great shots.

And the alligators there like them too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWGUY (Post 2035348)

:icon_wink: Maybe the "Fish Friar" put it there.....:jester:

Monk fish. Fish Friar. Fuuuney!😆😆😆

What do they taste like???
Fishy chicken???
😀😀

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580 (Post 2035434)

What do they taste like???
Fishy chicken???
😀😀

Try them at a local lunch special at Sumter Landing.

It looked like it’s shape of a horseshoe crab but it has a Skeleton, which crabs do not have .
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