The semi-transparent fish left visitors to a popular aquarium reeling after it gave them an alien-like grimace.
And now the month old thornback ray is proving something of a hit with Doctor Who fans - because it looks just like one of the baddies from the hit show.
With its smiling face, it is a spitting image of the time lord's enemy 'The Last Human' played by Zoe Wanamaker in the BBC show, fans say.
The young fish is just 12 centimetres long and is one of a dozen hatched from eggs known as 'mermaid's purses.' They were all born as part of a captive breeding programme at the Blue Reef Aquarium at Southsea, Hants.
The baby rays are currently being looked after in a special nursery tank, but once large enough they will join adult thornbacks and a variety of sharks, in a huge, open-top pool.
A Blue Reef spokesman said the babies were proving very popular with visitors.He said: "Their faces are very distinctive, especially the apparent smile.
"Some people have likened them to an alien or even the 'The Last Human' featured in Doctor Who.
"UK waters are home to up to nine different species including the electric ray and the giant skate which can reach lengths of up to three metres.
"Thornbacks are the most common ray in British waters and can grow up to 1.2 metres in length.
"They are called thornbacks because their upper body is covered with coarse prickles."
'The Last Human' featured in two episodes of Doctor Who, starring opposite both Christopher Eccleston and current time lord David Tennant.
