25 March 2009
By Siôn Donovan
Education reporter
They were thought to be mythical monsters of the deep. But a Portsmouth scientist says sea-serpents may exist in our oceans and seas today.
Dr Darren Naish says the discovery of several large marine animals during the past 35 years demonstrates there are sea mammals in existence waiting to be found.
As well as several sightings of mysterious creatures every year, he also point to the discovery of a large serpent-like carcass inside the stomach of a sperm whale off the coast of Canada in 1937.
Dr Naish, who carried out the study along with researchers from the University of London, concluded there are likely to be three species of sea-lion and walrus-like creatures – called pinnipeds – yet to be discovered.
He said: 'We're not talking about the Loch Ness Monster here or mermaids seen by 16th century sailors.
'The purpose of the paper was to assess the discovery curve of pinnipeds. We found from that data that there are more unusual and large species of sea lions and walruses to be found.
'It's possible that these new creatures could exist.'
Mammals need to surface to breathe but the scientists have some theories about why they've yet to be discovered.
As well as being few in number and living in remote regions, the creatures could also feed in 1km deep waters like sperm whales which are rarely seen on the surface.
Dr Naish said: 'There were more sightings in the past. It could be that people then were more prone to making mistakes and fantasising.
'But the behaviour of shipping has changed.
'Improved technology means ships can navigate straighter paths and are not as widespread across the seas.
'Engine noise could also frighten the creatures away.'
There is no active search for the creatures in such vast oceans. But Dr Naish said they could be found in the future by the whaling industry, snagged on ships or beached on shorelines.
The paper was published in the academic journal Historical Biology.
Fellow author Michael Woodley, of Royal Holloway, University of London, said: 'There is a need for scepticism as all known pinnipeds are noisy animals with close ties to land.
'These pinnipeds would have to possess some exceptional characteristics, if they exist.'
But he said: 'Many sightings have been made by trained observers, including military personnel and experienced naturalists.'
GREAT DISCOVERIES...
There are several examples of large animals that have been discovered in the oceans in the past 35 years which include the:
- Lesser or Peruvian beaked whale – a strikingly marked whale more than three metres in length from the eastern Pacific which was discovered in 1975.
- Megamouth, a large, filter-feeding shark known from tropical seas worldwide which can grow up to 5.5m in length, which was discovered in 1976.
- Omura's whale – little is known about this giant species, described as a smaller version of the 27 metre long Fin whale, and only discovered in the late 1970s.
- Indonesian coelacanth – a deep-sea fish more than a metre long with a striking metallic sheen which was discovered in 1998.
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