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From krakens to gigantic sea serpents, terrifying monsters of the deep have haunted the imaginations of generations of  mariners.

Now experts in marine life claim sea monsters might actually exist. Because scientists are still finding new species of underwater life, the discovery of ‘marine monsters’ is not impossible, a meeting heard yesterday.

‘The huge number of sea monster sightings now on record can’t all be explained away as mistakes, sightings of known animals or hoaxes,’ said palaeontologist Dr Darren Naish of the University of Portsmouth.

‘At least some of the better ones – some of them made by trained naturalists and such – probably are descriptions of encounters with real, unknown animals.’

One such example was reported in 1905 by zoologists Edmund Meade-Waldo and Michael Nicoll, who encountered a strange ‘sea serpent’ off the coast of Brazil.

And in August 1848, the crew of HMS Daedalus saw a 60ft-long sea creature during a voyage to Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.

At the time, biologists in London claimed it was most likely an elephant seal – or even an upside down canoe.

Dr Naish told yesterday’s meeting of the Zoological Society of London: ‘Because large marine animals continue to be discovered – various new whale and shark species have been named in recent years – the idea that such species might await discovery is, at the very least, plausible.’

Some people have suggested present-day monsters might be plesiosaurs, long-necked marine reptiles that lived at the time of dinosaurs. But this was dismissed by Dr Charles Paxton, of the University of St Andrews, who organised yesterday’s meeting, entitled Cryptozoology: Science or Pseudoscience?

‘If there are prehistoric animals alive today it would imply that there’s something very wrong with our understanding of the fossil record,’ he said.

Dr Paxton argues it is wrong to assume that all large animals living in the oceans have been discovered. ‘If the criteria is solely bigness, then this is not the case,’ he said. ‘In 1995 a benthic ray, which lives on the ocean floor, was found that measured 3.42 metres.’

Eight large marine species have been discovered in the past 20 years.

Cryptozoology is the ‘study of hidden animals’ – or the search for creatures whose existence has not been proved, such as the Loch Ness monster and the Abominable Snowman.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2013773/Sea-monsters-really-DO-exist-scientists-claim.html

CYNICS may dismiss it as just a piece of driftwood or a trick of the light.

But a photograph showing what appears to be a long-necked sea creature has got marine experts scratching their heads.

The ‘animal’ was snapped stalking a shoal of fish just 30 yards off the British coast.

The fish were apparently so terrified they beached themselves just seconds later.

The creature was spotted off the Devon coast at Saltern Cove, Paignton, by locals who reported a sighting of what they thought was a turtle.

But pictures taken by one of the baffled witnesses, Gill Pearce, reveal the neck of the greenish-brown beast with the reptile-like head is far too long for it to be a turtle.

Mrs Pearce, who took the photo on July 27, reported her sighting to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) where it was studied by sea life experts.

Claire Fischer from the MCS said: ‘Gill Pearce spotted the creature about 20m from the bay at Saltern Cove, near Goodrington.

‘It was observed at about 15.30 on 27 July but by the time she had got her camera it had moved further out.

‘She spotted it following a shoal of fish which beached themselves in Saltern Cove.

‘The creature remained in the sea, then went out again and followed the shoal – this indicates it’s not a turtle as they only eat jellyfish.

‘We would love to know if other people have seen anything like this in the same area and can help clear up the mystery.’

Source: news.com.au

sea creature carcass

Neither local residents Warrick Lovell, Rich Park, Basil Park, or anyone else it seems, knows what the big creature found dead on a beach here this week might be.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Corner Brook intends to check out the Lower Cove site today hoping to find some answers for the question of many curious onlookers who went there to see for themselves what Lovell found during a Wednesday afternoon walk on the beach.

“It would be nice to see if anyone knows what it is,” says Lovell. “First I thought it was a seal washed up (on the high tide earlier in the day), but when I went down to check on my boat that evening, I walked over to see and then I knew it wasn’t a seal.

“But, I don’t know what it is.”

Of unknown origin and species, so far, the odd-looking seaside carcass sits high and dry on the low tide, its approximately 15-foot length includes a pointed, 10-foot tail twisted in the sand, conjuring up Loch Ness monsters for some.

The animal, bearing a single flipper-like appendage on its right side, appears to have been decapitated and shows other signs of damage.

“I didn’t know what to think of it,” says Rich Park, also among the first to see it close up.

The long tapered tail on the squared torso of the carcass caused him to initially think the large hunk of flesh might be a tentacle off a giant squid Park said, but on closer inspection it became clearer what the protrusion was not that. It got hair on it in spots. I couldn’t (determine) what it was.”

“I’ve lived here all my life and never seen anything like it,” says Basil Park, who went Thursday went to take a look with friends and brothers Gilbert and Ernie Park, and neither one of them could say they knew what it was.

“There’s fishermen around here who fished all their lives and they couldn’t tell you.”

John Lubar with DFO says the Corner Brook office receives a number of calls from residents around the region each year reporting seals in brooks or to have rotting carcasses of whales or other dead things removed from a shoreline, but claims reports of unknown creatures from the deeps washing up are rare.

Common knowledge of the McIvers find spread by word of mouth over the past few days and at least one visitor to the site photographed the carcass and has posted it on Facebook.

DFO expects to have personnel in McIvers to do an inspection of Lower Cove by noon today.

Source: thewesternstar

The mysterious sea creature known as the “Muck Monster” has officially gained city residency.

Amid debates over budget cuts, tax hikes and potential layoffs, West Palm Beach commissioners took the time out to take care of the vital task of naming the Muck Monster an official citizen.

Good thing they did it now because rumor has it Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is looking for a new mascot to add to his changes.

The monster, which has gained fame like everything else these days – through YouTube video, has appeared only once in the Lake Worth Lagoon, but that cameo has made it the most famous resident in the city.

“This has actually become a pretty serious business,” Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel told the Palm Beach Post. “We’ll be visited by CNN, who will be looking for the Muck Monster. In all seriousness, what I think has happened is that, because of all of the work on the water front, the rebuilding of the sea wall and all the construction going down there, it has stirred up this creature.”

Scientists, biologists and locals have all made their guess as to exactly what the Muck Monster really is. There isn’t much evidence to go off of.

The viral video, shot by LagoonKeepers, shows some long, odd-shaped ripples moving through the lagoon in the animal’s wake. No head, arms or legs appear above the surface, but it’s pretty clear something massive is under the water.

Some say it is an otter or seal that made a wrong turn somewhere. Others say it could be a common animal in the region like a manatee or large gator that swam too close to the surface, creating the odd ripples.

And then there are those who believe in unicorns and fairy tale creatures who think it is a long lost link to the prehistoric past that has been living for countless years in West palm Beach water bodies.

West Palm Beach officials have their guess, too. Cash cow.

The city has already said they will set up feeding and viewing stations along the dock for visitors who want to try their hand at spotting the elusive creature.

With residency now established, does Muckie (trademark pending) have to pay property taxes or apply for a license? Good luck trying to collect.

Source: nbcnewyork

You may have to suspend disbelief here, but we assure you this is real life; you didn’t just wake up in a 1984 Ron Howard film. Somewhat recently there were multiple mermaid sightings off the coast of Kiryat Yam (near Haifa in Northern Israel) which prompted the town to offer up a $1 million reward for anyone who could prove the mythical creature exists. Once this news traveled all the way to New York, the Brooklyn-based Mermaid Medical Association got involved. (Also: there is a Mermaid Medical Association.)

The MMA isn’t at all worried that Kiryat Yam is probably like the government scientists who tried to take Daryl Hannah away from Tom Hanks, however. Nope, they’re actually suing the town for defamation, because they exist in order to defend the rights of mermaids worldwide. We really hope this does end up in International court, just so we can all read transcripts in which Kiryat Yam is berated by some Brooklynites for “badly and outrageously damaging the legendary mermaid legacy.”

Mermaids and their supporters are nothing if not fair, however, and have given the town 10 days to rescind the reward. Alas, town officials are playing hardball, and say they will “appeal to the organization which sent the letter and suggest that it join the search for the mermaid in order to perpetuate and preserve it.” Exactly, why are these two groups fighting when we’re thisclose to proving the existence of a mythical magical sea creature?

Source: gothamist

Singer Island has its very own (kind of, sort of) sea monster, and it’s a TV star.

The popular History Channel show MonsterQuest was in town this year to film an episode about a strange being cavorting in the Lake Worth Lagoon. The location wasn’t divulged during the show for fear that people would disturb the animal.

But a Florida Atlantic University professor interviewed for the show confirms that those red and white smokestacks seen in some shots are, in fact, the Riviera Beach Florida Power & Light plant, and that the general stomping grounds of the alleged sea monster are waters near Singer Island.

MonsterQuest was lured here by video taken by Palm Beach Gardens resident Gene Sowerwine.

Film clips of the animal reveal “stunning evidence of a sea beast hunting for prey,” according to the show.

A trident-shaped tail slaps mirror-like water in one image; a strange elongated snout breaks the surface to take a quick breath in another.

One of the stars of the show, which originally aired in April, is FAU oceanography Professor Ed Petuch.

“What in heaven’s name is that,” Petuch exclaims playfully when shown images of the beast. “Very interesting, that’s very wild.”

Petuch ends the suspense of the hourlong episode with his conclusion that the Singer Island sea monster could be a wayward arctic seal – extremely rare for these parts but not unheard of. (The trident tail, one expert says, is likely a boat-mangled manatee fluke.)

And while Petuch takes the show for what it is – a spot of fun – he said it is also a poignant reminder of environmental conditions.

If the Singer Island sea monster is a hooded or bearded seal, it points to the possible displacement of such animals by global warming or overfishing.

“Nature is never constant, by law,” Petuch said. “The ice is melting, the surface waters are becoming more fresh water, and it’s driving them out of their normal ranges.”

In 2007, a bearded seal was caught in Fort Lauderdale after leading rescuers on a chase south from Hobe Sound. The year before, two hooded seals were found locally, one in Martin County, another 2 miles north of The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach.

But Sowerwine, who could not be reached for comment, sounds convinced in his MonsterQuest episode that what he has witnessed is no seal.

As eerie music bah-dumps in the background, the lifelong outdoorsman explains: “This is something I’ve never seen and I believe is totally unknown to science.”

Martine DeWit, associate research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is a wet blanket on the Singer Island sea monster.

In her estimation, and she also is interviewed on the show, it is simply a manatee.

A boat-battered manatee, but a manatee no less.

“We know manatees can look like that when they get hit by a propeller,” DeWit said.

But what about that snout?

It appears longer than a manatee’s, Petuch says above MonsterQuest music – bah-dump.

“It appears to move at surprising speed,” a voice-over proclaims – bah-dump.

One MonsterQuest drawing of the seal/manatee-like beast includes ominous tusks.

“If this thing does exist like this, it would be one of the greatest discoveries of all time,” Petuch says to the camera with a quick smile – bah-dump.

Source: palmbeachpost