Zeuglodon-Sea Serpent TheoryZeuglodons are a group of primitive whales that are thought to have died out 30 million years ago. These primitive beasts looked nothing like today’s whales. They were long and serpentine, and they may have been able to crawl onto land, perhaps to have their young on shore or to travel overland to spawn in secluded lakes. Zeuglodons are suggested often as the explanation for sea serpent and lake monster reports.The zeuglodon has recently been re-named the basilosaurus in accordance with scientific naming conventions, whereby the first name given to a species, even if it is erroneous, is the official one. “Basilosaurus” is a name suitable for reptiles and dinosaurs, and was mistakenly given to the zeuglodon before it was realized to be a mammal. However, the new name has been slow to catch on in the cryptozoology community, and these creatures seem to be far more frequently labeled zeuglodons by cryptozoologists.If these primitive whales are still alive, they would certainly fit with the main characteristics found in standard sightings of lake monsters and sea serpents. Many lake monsters and sea serpents present an elongated, serpentine shape, like zeuglodons. In addition, many sea serpents and lake monsters have been reported from northern waters that are thought to be too cold for reptiles such as plesiosaurs or giant snakes, but these same waters would be fine for an aquatic mammal.Sea serpents and lake monsters are also frequently described as having bits of hair (especially a mane) and as swimming with vertical spinal flexure, both characteristics of mammals, not reptiles. Even though the latest zeuglodon fossils are around 30 million years old, this is not a terribly formidable barrier to the idea that they might have lived into modern times. Whale fossils of any kind are extremely rare, and the fossil record of sea creatures in general is quite spotty. A 30 million year gap is not a big deal. Some environments are not at all condusive to creating fossils, and the sea floor is one of the worst.Zeuglodons probably evolved from mesonychids, a family of hoofed predators, or from very close relatives of the mesonychids. Some of the earliest whales even had rows of tiny hooves along the edges of each flipper (early hoofed animals had larger numbers of hoofed toes than today’s modern ungulates such as cows and horses). Note: Because Zeuglodons, in recent years, have become the primary focus of several cryptozoology researchers who theorize that the animal may be responsible for some modern reports of Lake Monsters and Sea Serpents, it is one of the best Ogopogo candidates, as well as Manipogo.Further reading: Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep By Loren ColemanIn The Wake Of The Sea-Serpents By Bernard HeuvelmansIn Search of Ogopogo: Sacred Creature of the Okanagan Waters By Arlene GaalMonsters of the Sea By Richard EllisCadborosaurus: Survivor from the Deep By P. LebondLake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World’s Most Elusive Creatures By Benjamin RadfordYou may also enjoy this older post “Theories about Nessie Existence” that also discusses Zeuglodon.

Zeuglodon-Sea Serpent Theory

Zeuglodons are a group of primitive whales that are thought to have died out 30 million years ago. These primitive beasts looked nothing like today’s whales. They were long and serpentine, and they may have been able to crawl onto land, perhaps to have their young on shore or to travel overland to spawn in secluded lakes. Zeuglodons are suggested often as the explanation for sea serpent and lake monster reports.

The zeuglodon has recently been re-named the basilosaurus in accordance with scientific naming conventions, whereby the first name given to a species, even if it is erroneous, is the official one. “Basilosaurus” is a name suitable for reptiles and dinosaurs, and was mistakenly given to the zeuglodon before it was realized to be a mammal. However, the new name has been slow to catch on in the cryptozoology community, and these creatures seem to be far more frequently labeled zeuglodons by cryptozoologists.

If these primitive whales are still alive, they would certainly fit with the main characteristics found in standard sightings of lake monsters and sea serpents. Many lake monsters and sea serpents present an elongated, serpentine shape, like zeuglodons. In addition, many sea serpents and lake monsters have been reported from northern waters that are thought to be too cold for reptiles such as plesiosaurs or giant snakes, but these same waters would be fine for an aquatic mammal.

Sea serpents and lake monsters are also frequently described as having bits of hair (especially a mane) and as swimming with vertical spinal flexure, both characteristics of mammals, not reptiles.

Even though the latest zeuglodon fossils are around 30 million years old, this is not a terribly formidable barrier to the idea that they might have lived into modern times. Whale fossils of any kind are extremely rare, and the fossil record of sea creatures in general is quite spotty. A 30 million year gap is not a big deal. Some environments are not at all condusive to creating fossils, and the sea floor is one of the worst.

Zeuglodons probably evolved from mesonychids, a family of hoofed predators, or from very close relatives of the mesonychids. Some of the earliest whales even had rows of tiny hooves along the edges of each flipper (early hoofed animals had larger numbers of hoofed toes than today’s modern ungulates such as cows and horses).

Note: Because Zeuglodons, in recent years, have become the primary focus of several cryptozoology researchers who theorize that the animal may be responsible for some modern reports of Lake Monsters and Sea Serpents, it is one of the best Ogopogo candidates, as well as Manipogo.

Further reading:

Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep By Loren Coleman

In The Wake Of The Sea-Serpents By Bernard Heuvelmans

In Search of Ogopogo: Sacred Creature of the Okanagan Waters By Arlene Gaal

Monsters of the Sea By Richard Ellis

Cadborosaurus: Survivor from the Deep By P. Lebond

Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World’s Most Elusive Creatures By Benjamin Radford

You may also enjoy this older post “Theories about Nessie Existence” that also discusses Zeuglodon.

9 ♥ / 2 February, 2012 / Source:
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