DNA testing for the Loch Ness Monster
A team of scientists is dredging up sludge from Loch Ness to test it for DNA signatures. Among those bits of information could be the answer to the long-standing legend of Nessie: was she actually a wayward sturgeon, or a total hoax, or something else entirely?
This new science of studying “bio-schmutz” for environmental DNA is turning up all sorts of interesting data.
Check out this National Geographic article for more on the search for Nessie DNA.
Lake Monsters Everywhere!
Nessie isn’t the only mysterious lake monster in the world. I did a little research online and am amazed how many lake and sea cryptids there are.
Cryptozoology is the science of studying “hidden” folkloric animals, and there really are a lot of them. Every culture on every continent has their own.
Nessie is thought to be a Plesiosaur, and since Plesiosaur fossils have been found in England, Germany, North and Central America, Australia and Japan, well – who knows.
Legendary animals are fun; after all, who doesn’t like an Unicorn?
Nessie isn’t alone
The Loch Ness Monster is Scotland’s most famous cryptid; yet Nessie isn’t the only mythic water beastie in the United Kingdom.
Here are few “cousins” I found online (mostly Wikipedia.org):
• Loch Ness Monster – Nessie, Nessiteras rhombopteryx (She has a scientific name!)
• M`orag – Loch Morar, Scotland
• Muc-sheilche – Loch Maree, Scotland (suggested to be a large eel)
• Stronsay Beast – Orkney, Scotland (possibly a decomposing Basking Shark)
• Muckie – Lakes of Killarney, Ireland (a recent discovery)
• Bownessie – Lake Windermere Monster, England
• Morgawr (sea-giant) – Cornwall
Look at ‘em all!
There are bunch in the U.S. and Canada – isn’t this list amazing?
• Champ – Champtanystropheus americanus, Champy, Lake Champlain
• Bessie – Lake Erie Monster
• Gloucester Sea Serpent – Scoliophis atlanticus, Massachusetts
• Igopogo – Kempenfelt Kelly, Lake Simcoe, Ontario
• Kingstie – Lake George Monster, Lake Ontario
• Manipogo – Winnipogo, Lake Manitoba
• Memphre – Memphré, Lake Memphremagog Monster, Lake Memphremagog
• Mussie – Ontario
• Ogopogo – The Okanagan Valley in south-central British Columbia, Canada is supposed to look very similar to Nessie in the water. “Ogie” is usually described as more snake-like, with humps rising out of the water, but could still be a long-lost cousin. N’ha•a•itk, Naitaka are the names given it by the Native Nation.
• Turtle Lake Monster, Saskatchewan
• Altamaha-ha – or Altie, Georgia
• Bear Lake Monster – Idaho/Utah
• Tahoe Tessie – Lake Tahoe monster, reported by the Washoe and Paiute Peoples right up the present day, California/Nevada
There are water monsters in other countries as well:
• Selma – Seljordsormen, Lake Seljord, Telemark, Norway
• Storsj¨oodjuret, Sweden
• Brosno Dragon – Brosnya, Lake Brosno, Russia
• Lariosauro – Como Lake Monster, Italy
• Lukwata – African Great Lakes
• Mamiambo – South Africa
• Isshii, Issie – and Kusshii, Japan
• Lake Tianchi Monster – Lake Chonji Monster, China and North Korea
• Nahuelito – Nahuel Huapi Lake Monster, Argentina
Lake Monster Rubber Stamps
So with so many lake monsters in the world, and the fact that most kids (and let’s face it, most adults, too) love dinosaurs, our Nessie rubber stamps can stand in to represent lots of local legends.
Just about any lake or ocean scene could have a sea monster poking her head out.
Include a little cryptozoology in your stamping fun. I know I have.
Get the entire collection of Lake Monster rubber stamps (AKA Nessie) in my Etsy Shop.