A category of Sea Monster
identified by Gary
Mangiacopra.
Physical description: Length, 70–100 feet. Diameter,
9–15 feet. Smooth skin, with occasional
scales or warts. Dull green to dark brown in
color. Yellow, shading to lighter, on the underside.
Froglike or alligator-shaped head, 15 feet
long. Large green or red eyes. Jaw, 5 feet long,
with 6-inch-long teeth. Round neck. One pair
of frontal flippers. Large fin standing straight up
on the back.
Behavior: Swims rapidly by vertical undulations.
Churns up the water. Possibly attracted to
ships.
Distribution: Atlantic coast of the United
States.
Significant sighting: Captain Delory of the
sloop Mary Lane sighted a huge, alligator-like
head sticking out of the water southwest of
Point Judith, Rhode Island, on August 4, 1888.
He estimated its length as 70 feet as it passed
close by, its bright green scales glistening.
Present status: Mangiacopra identified five
sightings from 1878 to 1888, then seems to
have dropped this category.
Possible explanation: Some type of unknown
whale.