Sea Monsters
An unforgettable new adventure from National Geographic.
NationalGeographic.com

http://www. nationalgeographic.com/seamonsters/photogallery/dolichorhynchops .html

Sea-monster or Shark?

An Analysis of a Supposed Plesiosaur Carcass Netted in 1977

© 1997-2007 Glen J. Kuban, gkpaleo@yahoo.com

Acknowledgments

Originally published in Reports of the National Center for Science Education , May/June 1997, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 16-28.

 http://paleo.cc/paluxy/plesios. htm

---

This article is part of Kuban's Websites

---

 http://paleo.cc/paluxy/plesios. htm

Abstract      A decayed carcass accidentally netted by a Japanese trawler near

New Zealand in 1977 has often been claimed by creationists and others to

be a likely plesiosaur or prehistoric "sea-monster.

" Plesiosaurs were a group of

 

 

 

 

 

 

long-necked, predatory marine

reptiles with four paddle-like

limbs,

thought to have gone extinct

with the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago.

However, several lines of evidence, including lab results

 from tissue samples taken from the carcass before

it was discarded, strongly point to the specimen being a

shark, and most likely a basking shark.

This should not be surprising, since basking sharks are known to decompose

into "pseudoplesiosaur" forms, and their carcasses have been mistaken for "sea-monsters" many times in the past.

Unfortunately, the results

 of scientific studies on the carcass data received less

media attention than the early sensational reports,

 allowing widespread

misconceptions about

 this case to continue circulating. Therefore,

 a thorough review of its history and

the pertinent evidence is warranted.

---

On April 25, 1977, a fishing vessel named the Zuiyo-maru of the Taiyo Fishery Company Ltd. was trawling for mackerel about 30 miles

 east of Christchurch, New Zealand, when a large animal carcass became

entangled in its nets at a depth of about 300 meters (

almost 1000 feet). As the massive creature, weighing about 4000 pounds,

was drawn toward the ship and then hoisted above the deck,

assistant production manager Michihiko Yano announced to the captain (Akira Tanaka),

 "It's a rotten whale!" However, as Yano got a better look at the creature, he became less sure. About 17 other crew members also saw the carcass, some of whom speculated that it might be a giant

 turtle with the shell peeled off. However, no one on board

could say for sure what it was (Aldrich 1977; Koster 1977).

 

 

Figure 1. Four of the photographs taken by Michihiko Yano aboard the Zuiyo-maru on April 25, 1977. A, B. Two front views of the carcass. These were the photos that

 inspired many to view the carcass as plesiosaur like.

 C. The only clear photograph of the back of the carcass,

 showing an apparent dorsal fin and myocommata along the spine

(see Figure 5). D. The carcass on the deck, with the anterior end toward the right. A fifth photograph

(not shown) is an almost identical view of the carcass on the deck, and provides no additional information.Despite the possible scientific significance of the find, the captain and crew agreed that the foul-smelling corpse should be thrown

 overboard to avoid spoiling the fish catch. However,

as the slimy

carcass was being

maneuvered over the ship in preparation for

disposal, it slipped from its ropes and fell

suddenly onto the deck.

This allowed the 39 year old Yano, a graduate

of Yamaguchi Oceanological high school,

to examine the creature more closely.

Although he was still unable

to identify the animal, Yano felt it was definitely unusual, prompting him to take a set o

f measurements, along with five photographs using a camera borrowed from a shipmate.

 The total length

of the carcass measured 10 meters (about 33 feet).

 Yano also removed 42 pieces of "horny fiber" from an anterior fin,

in hopes of aiding future identification efforts. The creature was then

released over the side and sank back into its watery grave. All of this took place within about an hour (Koster 1977). About two months later Yano

 made a sketch of the carcass, which unfortunately

conflicts with some of his own measurements, photographs, and statements

 (discussed later).

 

Figure 2. Figure 2. Sketch of the Zuyiyo-maru carcass, made my Michihiko Yano two months after carcass was examined and thrown overboard.

Sketch and translations appeared in the Collected

 Papers of the Carcass of an Unidentified Animal Trawled Off New Zealand

by the Zuiyo-maru, 1978. Major body segment measurements difficult

to see in the drawing: Overall length: 10000 mm, head length: 450 mm, neck length: 1,500 mm.

Translations: A. Capture of a Nessie-like carcass. Trawled on April 25, 10:00 am at 43 deg. 57.5 min. S, 173 deg. 48.5 min. E [sic]. B. At the sea off

New Zealand; Zuiyo-maru. C. 1.

 Red muscles remaining on the

back of the trunk, overlaid by fat tissues. 2. There are 40-50 pieces of transparent,

nylon-like cartilages roundish in cross section, around the tips and limbs. D. 3.

Judging from the state of putrefaction, the animal may have been alive until about one month before acquisition. 4.

Internal organs in the abdomen are damaged, eaten by worms or fish. 5. The lower jaw has been lost.

E. Front view of the head (300 mm). F. Well skeletonized. G. Probably

nostrils [sic]. H. Diameter of the [neck vertebral bone (200 mm). I. Red muscles; fat layers on them. J. Cross section of the tail. K.

Cross section of the back bone (150 mm). L.

No internal organs in the abdomen. M. Length.

N. Diameter [of horny fibers?]. O. Length [of fibers] (200- 300 mm).

---

Note: This page had 62,966 hits from 10 May 1977 to 03 Dec. 2004.
On Dec. 5, 2004 a new counter was added for internal stats
Using the Paluxy site project counter at StatCounter.com

   GO ..GO..GREEN..!!