News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Fans of sci-fi thriller Alien could be forgiven for wincing at the site of this disgusting creature.

With its blood-covered body and tiny teeth, this rare purple eel goby looks almost as horrifying as the famous 'chestburster' which violently erupt from humans in the hit films.

It was recently spotted in Taihu Lake in China's Jiangsu Province and despite its similarities to the terrifying fictional alien, it thankfully feeds on crustaceans and tiny fish instead of humans.

(Image: REX/HAP/Quirky China News)

(Image: REX/HAP/Quirky China News)

It is amphidromous, which means it regularly migrates between freshwater and the sea, according to MailOnline.

Previously, it has only been found in coastal waters, estuaries and rivers. It usually reproduces in fresh water but spends time feeding and growing at sea.

The strange fish feeds on a mixture of crustaceans and small fish, often growing up to 30 centimetres in length .

(Image: REX/HAP/Quirky China News)

Incredibly, it can spend long periods of time out of the water by holding air in bronchial chambers. It is most often found in East Africa, India and Australia.

In the Alien films, the 'chestburster' are predatory extraterrestrials which grow inside humans before bursting through a person's chest.

The first Alien film was released in 1979 and starred Sigourney Weaver and John Hurt.