From MSNBC.com
A massive sea creature has washed up on a beach in Guangdong, China. So badly decayed it cannot be positively identified, the "sea monster" is 55 feet long and weighs approximately 4.5 tons, according to The Sun.
Upon seeing the photo of the beast three marine biology experts — Scott Baker of Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute; Bill Perrin, senior scientist for marine mammals at the National Marine Fisheries Service; and Bob Brownell, senior scientist for international protected resources with the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration's Fisheries Service — all think it's a whale.
Based on its throat grooves, "[we agree] that it's a balaenopterid," Baker told Life's Little Mysteries. "Judging from the reported size of 55 ft., maybe a fin whale. From the photo, however, it does not really look to be 55 ft., and so might be a smaller balaenopterid, like one of the 'Bryde's' whales."
"We all hope somebody collects the bones and a tissue sample for genetic analysis as recovery of whale carcasses is rare along the coast of China," he added.
The beast is tangled in ropes, and locals theorize that area fisherman once caught it but could not haul it in owing to its gargantuan size. According to The Sun, people have flocked to see the sea creature despite its foul stench.
55 Foot Sea Monster Washed Ashore in China
Tags :
Beach,
China,
Sea Monster,
Stench,
Whale
Related : 55 Foot Sea Monster Washed Ashore in China
Russia's Mysterious Lake Baikal devours VesselsAnother vessel with people on board disappeared in Lake Baikal. Now a search and rescue team is looking for a pleasure boat "Yamaha" that went into the lake with four me ...
Horned Sea Monster washes ashore in SpainThe decomposing corpse of a bizarre creature that recently washed ashore in Spain has local wondering what the hell it could be: A sea monster? A dragon? Falcor from ...
Top 5 Loch Ness Monster SightingsHere are five Loch Ness Monster sightings for you to check out. What do you think?and check out the the story of the Charles Mill Lake Monster. ...
The Evolution of Sea Monsters on Medieval Maps WASHINGTON — The iconic sea serpents, mermaids and other mythical creatures found on world maps from medieval and Renaissance times splash to life on the pages of a ...
Tourists' in shock as Morag monster of Loch Morar makes an appearenceSHE has been quiet for more than two decades without even the hint of a recorded sighting…But now Scotland’s second most famous Loch monster – Morag of Loch Morar – has ...
Cape Cod Creature "Real or Hoax" ?This is a breaking story. Is it an unknown or known species? Is it a well-place gaffe, a construction, a hoax? A closer examination is required. Can you help?An informan ...
China Property Agency Launches ‘Haunted House’ Database From flimsy fixtures to pestilential pipes, Beijing apartments generally come with one defect or another. So who needs an angry ghost added to the equation? To help po ...
Compiled list of the of flesh eating attacksThis was compiled by ragiusnotiel at ATS. I thought it was kind of clever and interesting so I thought I would share it with you.4-17-2012 - Man tried to bite another ma ...
Woman Sees Mermaid While Walking On Beach In Crescent City, CAA woman witnesses a strange mermaid-like creature while walking her dog on the beach in Crescent City, CA. Strange Encounters takes a look at this and more. What do you ...
Photographer claims 'black object' glided beneath surface of Loch Ness (video)A freak wave breaks the still waters of Loch Ness - but could it have been the monster?Amateur photographer David Elder claims a “solid black object” gliding beneath the ...
Strange sea monster appears in tourist’s vacation photos A British tourist who took pictures of the sea was left in shock after he discovered a weird "creature" had photobombed his holiday snaps. Harvey Robertson, 52, was ...
Unknown monster filmed in Lough Foyle in Ireland (video)Was shooting in Lough Foyle when this thing went past us. It was massive. Really don't know what it was. There have been whales in the Lough before so maybe that' ...
Documents Show Feds Believed in the YetiNewly unearthed State Department documents confirm for the first time Uncle Sam's belief that the Abominable Snowman roamed the mountains of Nepal in the 1950s, a findin ...
Man Finds 'DEAD MERMAID' On Deserted BeachPaul Jones was walking on a beach in the UK where he said he stumbled upon the dead decomposing corpse of what looks like a real life mermaid. What do you think?and chec ...
*NEW* Ogopogo Sighting in British Columbia's Lake Okanagan At first glance, it looks like a ripple in the water.But on further inspection, the dark shadows in British Columbia's Okanagan Lake show what could be seen as the ...