Woman opens can of tuna to feed kids, but finds stomach-turning creature instead

Sunday, February 8, 2015, 2:00 PM - It's the last thing anyone would expect – or want to see – when opening up a can of tuna: a weird little creature staring back at you.

According to the Nottingham Post, Zoe Butler, 28, was opening a can of Princes brand tuna, when she saw pair of eyes, a spiny tail, and purple intestines.

"I opened the top of the lid and saw a purply thing, a gut sack or intestine – then I turned it round and pushed it with a fork and saw it looking back at me." Butler said. "It's got like a spiny tail along the bottom – it's quite grim." 

The mother snapped a photo and posted it to Twitter, asking the public for opinions on what the 'alien' could be.

Experts from the Natural History Museum believe it is a tongue-eating louse called Cymothoa exigua, according to The Telegraph.

"From what I can see I would support the head of a Tongue-eating louse, Cymothoa exigua, or similar," said Stuart Hine, Identification and Advisory Service manager, from the Natural History Museum in London. "I think these are associates of smaller fish than Tuna and fish that tuna eat.

"We could undoubtedly say more if presented with the specimen." 

Butler made the scary discovery after buying a tin of Princes tuna from her local Asda in Arnold Nottingham.

Disagree with the experts? Let us know what you think this creature could be in the comments section below.

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Sources: The Telegraph, Nottingham Post, BBC News Day, Zoe Butler