Aug 8, 2008

Dead Monster Washes Ashore

I've made it a point not to post on dead vertebrate animals of a higher order than fish, but every so often one comes along that could use a bit of attention (or debunking).

The case of the mystery monster washed ashore is one such instance.

This creature washed ashore near Plum Island, MA, US. No one seems to know what it is. Some people have guessed that it is a de-shelled turtle (absurd notion to me), or that it is a freakish result from a nearby animal testing facility (too science fictiony for me). But Meaghan and Paula have the best theory that I've seen: it's a dog that drowned at sea. It's hair fell out and part of its maw got nibbled on en route to the shore.

Your theories?

Thanks for the article, Kitty, Kristen, Meaghan, and Paula.

UPDATE: This has been identified as a racoon. Look at the comment thread for appropriate links. Thanks everyone.

Photo source: Gawker.com
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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 08, 2008

    The mystery of the Montauk Monster has been solved, but I won't spoil the fun here in the thread! After everyone's done speculating, go check out Tetrapod Zoology at Scienceblogs for the answer. :)

    http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2008/08/the_montauk_monster.php

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  2. AnnicaAugust 08, 2008

    @ Christie; Link doesn't excist!

    I dont know what it is... All I know is, that every time I look at it for longer than 3 seconds, I feel like my Sushi is coming back up again...

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  3. AnonymousAugust 08, 2008

    This actually washed up in Montauk, NY hence the name the Montauk Monster. It cannot be a turtle, turtles ribs and spines are part of their shell, and turtles do not have teeth. The whole back of this thing would be ripped up. This is why you cannot take a turtle out of it's shell and have it survive. I have heard it may be a dog, and here are some more pics out there of this thing flipped over and it shows patches of brownish hair on it. It also shows a better close-up of the muzzle, which in this pic appears to be a beak, but in others, it just looks like cartilage and bone

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  4. AnonymousAugust 08, 2008

    This link to the Tetrapod Zoology post might work better:

    http://shorl.com/dinafujofrefy

    --
    Bruce

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  5. AnonymousAugust 08, 2008

    Awww... I wanted it to be a northern species of chupacabra. =(

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  6. AnonymousAugust 10, 2008

    ugh, that is soooo fricken nasty. :( i'm no longer hungry for lunch.

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  7. AnonymousAugust 11, 2008

    Yay, a new word (to me, anyhow): taphonomy!

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  8. ummm, errrrAugust 15, 2008

    FAKE!

    Its a prop (and viral advertising?) for the forthcoming film Splinterheads.

    Wikipedia is your friend

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  9. UnknownSeptember 16, 2008

    i was thinking chupacabra too...

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  10. lisa and kiraFebruary 09, 2010

    I think it might be the mockturtle from wonderland and my 7 year old daughter says it might be Micheal Jackson also from Wonerland!

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