An 'alien' has been spotted swimming around in Exeter Ship Canal - and experts say it could be a threat to our native species.
Photos show a terrapin has made itself at home among the reeds and banks of the five mile stretch of water.
The latest sighting wasn't far from the Double Locks pub. The creature was taking in some rays near the swing bridge.
Miranda Coleman, who took the photo earlier this week, said: "We saw it just up from the narrow drive-over bridge. It was just basking in the sun on the bank. It was surprisingly big."
It is unclear if the terrapin is one single invader or part of a burgeoning colony - there are also reports of one being spotted closer to the city, beyond the canal basin.
Terrapins are not native to the UK and pose a huge threat to native animals. Releasing them into the wild is illegal.
Devon Wildlife Trust says a population surge could be a massive headache.
A spokesman for the trust said: "We've had reports of a terrapin in the canal close to the Welcome Cafe. They are not native and shouldn't be in our waterways. It is likely this one has has been dumped by a member of the public.
"We had experience of terrapins at Bystock Pools nature reserve in Exmouth. They were there for years and it has taken us a lot of effort and time and money top get rid of them, humanely I would add, by re-homing them.
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"The basic problem is our wildlife isn't used to them. They are predators and eat a lot of insect larvae. So things like dragonflies, damselflies and all the beautiful things we expect to see are threatened and eaten by terrapins. They eat anything they can swallow basically.
"They are bad news."
While not feasting on insects a terrapin could also gorge on ducklings and other small water birds.
The good news is that there are no recorded cases of the animals breeding in the UK - the ones at Bystock Pools were a mix of red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders from the USA.
On the downside they can live for 50 years so won't be in any hurry to die off naturally.
The trust spokesman added: "Terrapins in the canal is the result of people acting irresponsibly. They have them as pets but they get bigger and smell a bit and suddenly they don't want them.
"People should think very carefully before they decide to dump them. It is illegal to dump non-native species."
