The intriguing beast was found off the Aberdeenshire coast on Sunday as the country endured 90mph winds and torrential rain.

A photograph of the creature was shared on a Facebook page, prompting hundreds of suggestions about what it could be.

Some thought it was a whale or dolphin, while others dismissed this suggestion saying the creature’s ‘horns’ make them thresher sharks, which are known to enter British waters during the summer.

The intriguing beast was found off the Aberdeenshire coast on Sunday as the country endured 90mph winds and torrential rain.

Some thought it was a whale or dolphin, while others joked it could be the famous Loch Ness Monster (pictured, an image supposedly of the Loch Ness Monster taken in 1934 by a surgeon on vacation in London)

But even marine biologists are baffled, and Professor David Lusseau of the University of Aberdeen says more information would be needed.

He told MailOnline: “Unfortunately, from this photo alone we can’t say much more than it is a whale in some form.” We would need shots of the front (and probably a bit of poking around) to get an ID.

However, the confusion surrounding the creature hasn’t stopped people from sharing their suggestions.

James Trippington said: ‘Very similar to Orca or Dolphin. But the caudal vertebrate seems quite thin. Although it’s certainly not a shark.

But Andrew Mowat dismissed the idea, saying: ‘Does it seem like the spine is designed for side-to-side movement? The whales move up and down.

Others joked that it could be the Loch Ness monster, suggesting the beast could have escaped from its supposed aquatic home about 100 miles away.

Brian Ingram said: ‘Nessie! She escaped to the sea but then met a difficult end. And Emma-Louise Bolland said: ‘Nessie. She couldn’t adapt to salt water.

Another joked: “It’s a very, very rarely seen deep sea Haggis.”

A woman makes her way through flood waters as the waters of the River Ouse passing through York break the river banks after Storm Ciara.

The Loch Ness monster has long been a Scottish legend, with dozens of alleged sightings claimed each year.

There were a higher number of alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster last year, 18 in total, than at any time since 1983, when ‘Nessie-mania’ was at its peak.

The sighting of the mysterious creature in Aberdeen came amid the gales and downpours of Storm Ciara this weekend.

Ciara brought 97 mph winds, up to seven inches of rain, flooding and left more than 20,000 people without power.

And now Britain is set to be hit by ‘blizzard conditions’ and heavy rain today, as flood-hit Britain braces for a 72-hour deluge, with Storm Dennis on the way this weekend.