Scoliophis Atlanticus

August 10, 2013 8:08 PM

From all the depositions, here is a summary of the animal’s behavior and apparent anatomy: The animal only appeared in calm weather and in flat water; its body was thick as a keg in circumference and skin dark, nearly black, and reflected sunlight very brightly when it rested on the surface. It had black eyes, too, and its head was about the size of a big dog’s or horse’s head but leathery and snake-like — ship master Eppes Ellory, standing with 20 witnesses, deposed, “I was looking at him with a spy-glass, when I saw him open his mouth and his mouth appeared like that of a serpent; the top of his head appeared flat.” Did the Gloucester fisherman see a massive tuna, or a serpent? And what are we conjuring, when we imagine the sea?
posted by mannequito (6 comments total)

It should be pointed out that this report is from 1817.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:11 PM on August 10, 2013

It should be pointed out that this report is from 1817.

What a relief!

My understanding is that it's turtles all the way down.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:52 AM on August 11, 2013

I was all like, what, didn't the dude have a camera on his cellphone?
posted by kaibutsu at 1:10 AM on August 11, 2013

Oarfish
posted by Thorzdad at 4:59 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

I was thinking oarfish too, but now the turtle theory has me all confustulated.
posted by sneebler at 6:59 PM on August 11, 2013

Aha! I was beginning to wonder if my "Metafilter cryptozoology" RSS feed was working.
posted by closetphilosopher at 6:16 AM on August 12, 2013