Locals have been left baffled after thousands of dead starfish washed up on a popular beach in Fife.
Pictures were shared on social media showing hundreds of the species discovered along Kirkcaldy beach on Monday.
People sharing images of the scene likened it to a "starfish apocalypse".
While the scene has shocked the public, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said incidents like this are usually a "natural event".
Another marine expert told STV News this is a minor event, and there are many factors that could have caused the stranding including storms out at sea.
This isn't the first time a mass starfish stranding has happened in Scotland - a similar incident occurred in 2023.
A spokesperson for SEPA said: "From experience, if there are mass numbers of the same species, it's usually a natural event, and this has happened with starfish before."
Marine Conservation Society and SEPA has been contacted for comment.