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An angler has been left stumped after hooking a rare and as yet unidentified fish.

The mystery creature has a large head and is covered with sharp spines on the top and bottom of its body, which gets progressively smaller towards the tail.

The fish measuring over one foot in length also has two tusk-like spikes near its mouth.

The strange catch has left locals baffled as to what it could be.

(Image: Barcroft)

Sapar Mansor, 43, from Taman Ceria, Permyjaya, caught the strange creature in the South China Sea near Tudan, Malaysia.

“This is the first time in my life that I have seen this type of fish. I brought it home to my wife and informed her of the rare catch,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Sapar said he and a friend went out in a fishing boat and travelled two hours from Miri River to the sea.

They started fishing around 5am but after around an hour at the location many miles from Miri, he landed his surprising catch.

(Image: Barcroft)

“My husband caught this rare species and I was surprised to see the fish,” said his wife Siti Kadariah, 35.

“When my husband brought the fish home, both my children were stunned because of its shape and uniqueness.”

She said the children have taken to calling the creature an ‘Armour Fish’ because of its sharp spines.

Siti has decided to dry the fish so that it can be preserved and kept at their home.

“It is God’s gift and I and my family will keep the fish,” she added.