Sea Monster or Just Barnacles?

Waikanae, New Zealand, beachgoers were fascinated by this 45 feet (14-m) long tentacle-covered mass.

Was it a beached sea monster? Nay, said the authorities. It’s just barnacles:

Nightmarish sea monster or natural wonder?
A 14-metre, tentacle-covered mass has horrified and fascinated Waikanae beachgoers this week.

However, Conservation Department community relations programme manager Stacy Moore said it was actually a lot of goose barnacles (Lepas anatifera), each about 30 centimetres long with a shell attached to each long pinkish tube. They were stuck to a piece of wood or rope.

Link – via Fortean Times