The creature's strange features has left locals both terrified and baffled and was originally assumed to be an alien.
The bizarre beast appears to have two legs and a tail, sharp fangs and winged claws, in addition to a long point protruding from its head.
It's decaying skeleton horrified Christchurch residents Hanna Mary and her mother who spotted the critter while out on a beach walk in Rakaia Huts, Canterbury.
Speaking to the NZ Herald, Hanna said: "My first thought was that it was something alien, but I was more fascinated than anything."
The pair were initially scared to touch the creature in case it was poisonous but then decided to take it to a taxidermist in the hope that they would clear up the mystery.
But after inspection, the taxidermist was left just as bemused by the creature's origins as they were and Hanna revealed she turned to her family and friends for answers.
"I uploaded the photos on Facebook and we were all taking guesses, most people said skate.
Dr. Francis revealed that the claws on the wings are called alar spines, which only male skates have to use for mating.
Skates are a type of fish that have cartilage instead of bone as well as enlarged pectoral fins which are attached to their heads to form their disc-shaped body.
Skates are harmless to humans and unlike stingrays, skates do not have a venomous spine in their tail. But, similar to Rays, their wings are often eaten.
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