The ocean is a thriving ecosystem, home to many creatures that are so colorful and beautiful it’s breathtaking.

But once they die and float to the surface, a combination of depressurization, decomposition, and being nibbled on by other animals renders their bodies completely revolting. By the time a dead sea animal washes up on a beach, it is usually unrecognizable, slimy, and just plain stinky.

Many “globsters,” as these carcasses are often called, have been mistaken for sea serpents, krakens, and all manner of mythical beasts. But modern science has revealed the truth: These are disgusting blobs.