The island garnered unusual publicity this week with claims online that Google maps had inadvertently captured an alien craft in the skies over the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

The debate on social media, reported on Thursday by The Daily Mail, also had some commenters under the TikTok video surprised to learn the island was a country.

Several insisted the blurred aerial blotch, visible on the virtual tour of the BAMZ campus and not far from the Caribbean Exhibit, resembled a saucer-like craft, possibly caught in the act of breaking the sound barrier.

Others were less easily convinced, with one commenter writing it was “definitely a bird”.

Chatter over the object inevitably led to Bermuda Triangle references.

Ian Walker, principal curator at BAMZ, joined the fun after the article was shared on Facebook, writing: “I have to sincerely apologise. Our aliens escaped their exhibit.”

Dr Walker added: “We are working hard to get them back in, but as you can imagine, it is challenging.

“In the interim, we ask the public not to panic but please do watch out for the odd death ray and tractor beams.”