Coffin ray found on Bathers Beach at Fremantle stuns couple as they search for answers online

A couple were left scratching their heads after stumbling across a bizarre find on a popular beach. 

The pair had been walking along Bathers Beach at Fremantle, in Western Australia, when they came across the mysterious creature.

They took a photo of their peculiar find and posted it to Facebook in search for answers. 

‘Found this with the family at Bathers Beach today… Any idea what it is?’ the caption read.

Social media users were quick to offer their suggestion with some making tongue-in-cheek comments.

‘Another reason to stay out of the ocean,’ one wrote.

A second added: ‘An alien baby’. 

Some social media users correctly identified the mysterious creature as a Coffin Ray. 

Coffin rays, also known as stun rays or numbfish, are notorious for their ability to deliver electric shocks to its prey.

Several social media users pointed out the coffin ray appeared ‘dried out a bit’ and bent out of shape. 

‘Normally it has wings that shape in almost a figure-eight shape [and] the tail is dried out, but it doesn’t have a long barb — normally just a short stumpy tail,’ one wrote.

Coffin Rays are best avoided, with their electric organs able to deliver electric shocks equivalent to 50 amps or more.

While this level of shock likely wouldn’t kill a human, it’s more than enough to inflict significant pain. 

Marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck shared advice on how beachgoers to avoid being stunned.

‘The best way to avoid shocks or stings, is to shuffle your feet along the bottom instead of stepping,’ she said.

‘Doing the “stingray shuffle” will disturb the rays enough to cause them to swim off, but not enough to sting or shock, if they were to be stepped on.’ 

Coffin rays, or numbfish, are endemic to the waters of East and West Australia and gain their name from their ability to deliver powerful electric shocks