The truth behind the 'alien' in Colombia: As mysterious corpse is discovered, scientist reveals what it could really be - and whether or not it is an extraterrestrial

While most scientists look to the stars for signs of extraterrestrial life, others claim that the evidence might already be here on Earth.

Mysterious remains surfaced in Colombia this week, which some say could have their origins beyond this world. 

Veteran public radio reporter, Josep Guijarro, claimed the unusual corpse could be an extraterrestrial or a 'tiny humanoid' from an ancient species. 

But experts now say that the real explanation is likely far simpler. 

Professor Sian Halcrow, a forensic anthropologist and expert on infant remains, told MailOnline that this is probably the remains of a preterm human baby. 

These bizarre images of an 'alien foetus' were shared by former public radio host and alien investigator Josep Guijarro

These remains appear to have alien-like features, but experts suggest they are consistent with the appearance of mummified human foetuses 

What is being claimed? 

These strange images were shared by veteran public radio host Josep Guijarro who is now a full-time alien investigator. 

According to Mr Guijarro, the images were shared with him by a source who 'wanted to know if it could be a being from another world and informed me that the specimen comes from Colombia.' 

The alleged alien has a large elongated skull, slanted eyes, an umbilical cord and, an 'unusual number of ribs'.

In an article published in Espacia Misterio, he claimed that the remains only had 10 ribs on each side of the body compared with 12 in the typical human. 

Mr Guijarro also claims that the remains emerged from 'el cerro de los enanos' ('the Hill of the Dwarves') in remote Colombia.

However, in a later post on X, he added that he could not know the exact origin of the specimen because he lacked 'verifiable data'.  

The new find resembles Chile's mysterious, oblong-headed 'Atacama skeleton' (above), which according to a Spanish businessman who spent a decade studying it, may have once been a small class of terrestrial humanoid

READ MORE: 'Alien corpse' row breaks out as American UFO expert slams Mexico's unveiling of 'non-human' bodies as 'an unsubstantiated stunt' 

The two 'alien corpses' were unveiled to a stunned Mexican congress this week

The post has sparked a wave of speculation online that these remains could be those of an extra-terrestrial species that came to Earth at some point in the distant past.

One social media commenter wrote: 'Surely it's an intraterrestrial species that still lives among us?'

These claims echo the theories that surrounded the 'alien mummies' that were presented to Mexico's congress last September. 

However, those claims were soon disproved when analysis revealed that the 'aliens' were nothing more than dolls made of animal bones. 

However, Mr Guijarro has attempted to distance himself from these theories and has proposed an alternative, though still far-fetched, suggestion.

In an apparent dig at the Mexican alien debacle, he wrote: 'I am sure that someone in Mexico would have already given it the label "alien" but in my case I prefer to be more cautious.'

Instead, pointing to the 'not trivial detail' of the umbilical cord, Mr Guijarros suggests these remains are those of an ancient species of 'tiny humanoid'. 

The Spanish public radio veteran did venture to suggest that the specimen might be related to 'Ata', an infamous, six-inch 'alien'-like corpse unearthed in Chile in 2003. 

He suggests that both of these specimens could be related members of a species of human-like creatures that lived around 800 years ago. 

'The legends speak of a civilization of tiny beings, about 35-40 centimeters, that would live at the top of these mountains,' he wrote.

Guijarro's scepticism has not stopped others weighing in with their own theories about the new Colombian corpse mystery. 'It is very similar to the Atacama being,' one said (above). 'Surely it's an intraterrestrial species that still lives among us?'

The 'aliens' presented to Mexico's Congress in September were revealed to be nothing more than bone dolls made by humans 

What do the experts say?

However, despite the online speculation, expert opinion suggests a far simpler explanation.

Professor Halcrow told MailOnline that all the supposed evidence for the extra-terrestrial origins of the specimen could be easily explained.

She said: 'There are always conspiracy theories and unfortunately some people pick up and run with these as they are the most sensationalist and get the most attention.

'However, they have ignored the most parsimonious explanation, that this is a preterm baby.'

The unusual appearance of the remains is due to the mummification of soft tissue in arid conditions, according to Professor Halcrow. 

Since foetuses have softer bones and are not fully developed, this mummification process can leave the remains looking unusual to unfamiliar observers.

Previous 'aliens' and tiny humanoids (pictured) have been studies by experts and all bear common features which can be explained by the mummification of soft tissue in foetus or preterm babies 

Professor Halcrow explained: 'The anatomy of this individual is consistent of a mummified human fetus.

'The misshapen appearance of the skull may be from fetal head moulding during birth where the parietal bone (large bones on either side and top of the skull) can overlap the frontal bones and other parietal bone.'

Likewise, this theory can also explain the 'alien-like' features that are apparent in the mummy.  

'Babies only open up their eyes in utero at about 27 weeks gestation so the purported malformed eyes are a result of the soft tissue mummification of the eyes and eyelids,' Professor Halcrow said.

As for the claim that there are only 10 ribs on either side, Professor Halcrow says that there is 'no reason' to believe this is the case.

Since the two lower ribs are very small, they are extremely difficult to see and would be hard to spot from the pictures alone. 

More worryingly, Professor Halcrow also points out that Mr Guijarros fails to mention the context of where these remains were found.

She added: 'There is mention that it is from 800 years ago. If that is the case this baby is from a plundered ancient burial site.'