A number of alien-like crabs spotted on a beach in eastern China have caught the imagination of tourists visiting the region.

Fishermen in Shandong province spotted the faces of extraterrestrial creatures on the shells of the creepy crabs, which have been named locally as the 'iron crab' due to their scary claws, reported the People's Daily Online.

The unusual crab has two giant claws and a pointed shell covered in large bumps.

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Extraterrestrial: Fishermen have discovered the alien-like crabs in Shandong province in eastern China

Monster-like: The crabs had giant claws that measured 7 inches in length, but a comparatively small body

Spot the difference: Locals say they can see aliens on the shells. Pictured right is fictional alien Predator

Locals have not seen this type of crab before and do not know the name of the species.

The crab's body appeared to be largely disproportionate to its claws, leading to comparisons with fictional alien Predator.

One of the crabs had a body that only measured 2.3 inches in width, but its claws were 7 inches long.

But these are not the first alien crabs to grace the shores of China.

The Chinese mitten crab, which is known for its furry claws, is named as one of the world's worst invasive alien species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN).

The crabs can be found across the UK, including in the Thames, and cause problems by preying on native species and damaging riverbanks.

Sci-fi: This type of crab has not been seen before by locals, and they are not sure what species they belong to