The explorers said it was found near a strange elongated humanoid skull that was also given over.

There have been instant claims that the items are hoaxed, particularly as the group would not give exact details about the location of the finds.

But, Mr Foerster, who obtains an unusually high amount of mysterious specimens, which it is claimed could originate from aliens, believes it is a genuine sample.

Mr Foerster said he examined the hand in Cusco, Peru, and that he thought it came from a real creature.

He says X-rays were taken of the objects, which showed the fingers on the hand each had six bones, instead of the three in a human finger.

Unnamed physicians said the hand and skull were “biological objects”, with “real animal bone and skin tissues”, he claimed.

They also concluded the hand was not human or from any known animal on Earth, it is alleged.

He said: “It was X-rayed and examined by physicians here in Cusco who stated that it clearly was not a human, but was a life form of some kind.”

Mr Foerster’s group said radiocarbon and DNA testing of the objects are now planned.

Scott C Waring, an unconnected alien hunter based in Taiwan, discussed the allegations on his website ufosightingsdaily.com.

He said: “DNA results will only say the DNA doesn’t match any known species.

“Sure there is a skull, but it looks to be the size of an infant, if it is the same species as the hand.”

He believes aliens exist on Earth and speculated over the finds.

He added: “Several different kinds of aliens may have been working together and died in the Cusco cave tunnel where it was found.”

But there have been mixed reactions to the suggestions.

One YouTube viewer said: ““Truly amazing. It makes you question the whole idea of life and how it evolved.”

Others called “hoax.”

Another viewer of a video about the claims said: “Maybe someone attached human fingers on top of a fin.”

Some ridiculed the claims of real scientists being involved.