THE strange, creepy-looking sea creature washed ashore in the island of Dinagat in Surigao del Norte belonged to that of a whale, local authorities said.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the carcass is already in its advanced stage of decomposition, so the agency could not identify what particular whale species it belongs to.

The carcass is about 6.3 meters long, excluding the tail which is missing. It is also two meters wide from the dorsal to pectoral fin.

Authorities have sent specimen samples to BFAR-Manila for laboratory examination to determine what caused the whale's death.

Photos and videos of the carcass, which was found washed up on the coast in Barangay Poblacion, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands on Wednesday, February 22, went viral on social media.

Some netizens said it was a carcass of a sea cow (dugong), while others see it as a bad omen.

The Municipal Government will reportedly preserve the bones of the whale as a memento. (Daryl D. Anunciado/SunStar Philippines)