Cryptozoologicon: Volume I by Naish Darren

Author:Naish, Darren [Naish, Darren]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Irregular Books
Published: 2013-10-30T14:00:00+00:00

True seals (or phocids) appear short-necked, torpedo-shaped and use a humping, caterpillar-like motion of the body to move on land. Sea lions and fur seals (or otariids) appear long-necked and their large, highly mobile limbs allow them to move rapidly and with great agility when on land.

The giant size and cryptic nature of Megalotaria mean that it must be substantially aquatic, mostly likely living a live divorced from land. However, its enormous size and pelagic lifestyle are relatively new features that have only evolved in the last few million years. Consequently, the animal still retains skeletal features that allow the body to be supported on land, and smaller individuals (young ones of less than 7m in length) can still do this. Profound sexual dimorphism in Megalotaria explains the size discrepancy in sightings, with enormous bulls being twice the length of females.

Megalotaria fills a unique ecological niche for pinnipeds. It does not pursue fish, squid or other such prey at speed in open water. Rather, it is a benthic feeder on the abyssal plain, diving deep to search for sea cucumbers, sea stars and other prey, and apparently finding them by touch. Its paired breathing snorkels mean that it is usually concealed just beneath the surface when lounging between dives. In evolutionary terms, Megalotaria is a remarkable innovation among pinnipeds, absolutely unlike all other members of its group. If it survives the age of man, it should give rise to an entire dynasty of open-ocean, deep-diving, long-necked giant pinnipeds.

Coleman, L. & Huyghe, P. 2003. The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep. Tarcher/Penguin, New York.

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