The possibility that
a novel species of pinniped evolved a long
neck, a neck longer than the extant families, presents a morphological and
taxonomical conundrum, and although such a proposed creature has changed shape
and size in the hands of various authors, the case for its existence remains
purely theoretical.
Having said that it
is clear that a number of sightings of unusual aquatic animals, certainly over
the last 100 years or so, which have been described as sea serpents or lake
monsters, do appear to bear an uncanny resemblance to such an animal.
The aim of The Seal
Serpent was to undertake a critical reappraisal of the evidence for
such a pinniped, reviewing historical accounts and theories to see if it could
indeed exist. During the course of this research however, several things became
apparent.
·
There were a
number of inaccuracies detracting from the historically cited evidence, by ground-breaking
authors such as Heuvelman`s and Costello.
This was not
intentional, but a result of the limited availability of accessing sources at
the time. There was no internet, no online archives, and no electronic
type-face. Compiling their works must have been no easy feat.
Unfortunately, some
subsequent researchers, who have had access to modern technology and resources,
have simply regurgitated this proposed evidence at face value without any
effort to elucidate.
· It is quite clear
from our research that over the last 100 years or so a number of non-indigenous
pinnipeds, California sea lions and possibly Steller sea lions, have escaped
from captivity or have been deliberately released in the UK and Europe. Such
events have also likely to have occurred worldwide.
This is a potential game-changer
and has been completely unexplored as a possible explanation for some
such reports and completely missed by sceptics, who have certainly dismissed lake monsters out of hand.
A number of reports
of sea serpents and lake monsters from Europe are most likely simply reports of
these errant animals’ subsequent escapades. The morphology of sea lions is far
removed from the indigenous phocid (true seals) of this region (below).
Such large animals
(8-10 ft. in length, below), swimming around the coasts, up rivers and into
lakes where they might not be recognised for what they were, especially when
coupled by a deep rooted folkloric belief in entities such as the water horse. Combined
with a latent expectancy on the part of the observer that prehistoric reptiles
were alive and well and living in small bodies of water, (thanks to Loch Ness).
· There
does appear to be a small body of evidence to suggest that an unusual species
of novel pinniped may remain undiscovered.
This possibility
requires a new theoretical approach, something that the authors have explored
in some depth within The Seal
Serpent (amongst the typos). As a result the following suggestions have
been made.
1. An existing
species of sea lion or fur seal (otariidae), has become detached from its
normal distribution pattern, sometime in the past, possibly due to a climatic
event or self-dispersal, subsequently colonising an area where no such species
has been documented previously; for instance the North Atlantic.
2.
A presently
unidentified ancestral otariid pinniped diverged into this region as above.
3. Various
ecological factors, such as competing with indigenous phocid seals in this area,
encouraged either such colony to forage inland; up rivers and into lakes which
in turn encouraged a form of hyper speed evolution- the evolution of a more flexible
neck for catching migrating prey.
4. An otariid
species endemic to the North Atlantic which had evolved novel features, present
for hundreds or thousands of years in this region, foraging inland as above,
complete with ears, a mane and the ability to move over land fairly easily, may
have been the origin of the fabled water horse of Celtic and Scandinavian
folklore.
5. Any such species
will not be too different in size and shape from extant otariid species.
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