Bizarre 'alien egg pods' pulled from reservoir sparks fear over 'body snatchers' as locals warned more coming
Bizarre 'alien egg pods' spark speculation over UFOs
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)
Strange "alien egg pods" pulled from a reservoir in Oklahoma are causing panic among netizens, with many fearing they are aliens from outer space.
Amid the speculation, wildlife officials have warned that the bizarre creatures will multiply this summer.
Images surfaced online show the large jelly-like balls hanging from submerged tree limbs in McGee Creek Reservoir, Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) shared the images on its Facebook account.
Images surfaced online show the large jelly-like balls hanging from submerged tree limbs
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)
It posted: "What is that??? If you’re out boating somewhere like McGee Creek Reservoir you may notice these strange jelly-like balls hanging from submerged tree limbs.
"These are Bryozoans, and they’ll likely show up in large numbers this summer. Don’t be alarmed these microorganisms are native and are of no danger to you or wildlife.
"In fact, they are an indicator of good environmental quality and clear water."
Bryozoans, or "moss animals" are aquatic organisms, living for the most part in colonies of interconnected individuals. They can be traced back as far as 470 million years.
A colony can be made up of a few to many millions of these clump-like creatures.
Some bryozoans encrust rocky surfaces, shells, or algae.
The aquatic organisms clone themselves into large masses to filter tiny particles out of the water for food - ultimately cleaning up the lake.
This self-cloning mechanism is the result of having both male and female reproductive organs.
This means they can also reproduce asexually if one breaks off from a colony and allows them to reproduce in even greater numbers.
They mainly feast on bacteria and phytoplankton which is found in the water.
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The creatures clone themselves into large masses to filter tiny particles out of the water for food
ODWC
Despite being very much of this world, many internet users fear they are in the presence of UFOs, with one user writing: "My oldest son thought they were body snatchers just waiting to hatch and take our bodies."
"They look like alien egg pods from outer space," a second person wrote.
Others expressed alarm over the sightings in the reservoir, saying they thought something was wrong with the water.
The creatures thrive in warm waters, which is why more are set to appear in the coming months as temperatures increase during the summer season.