A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LONG NECKED SEAL
The notion of a seal with a long neck is not a new one.
It was originally proposed by Dr. A. C. Ouedemans Jnr. (1858-1943), a Dutch naturalist as an attempt at explaining the perplexing enigma of the `sea serpent`, in general. The popularity and identity of such a wondrous leviathan having divided both the public and scientific communities at the time. Although he initially favoured the then, newly discovered Zeuglodon, or primitive whale as a likely candidate, Ouedemans eventually settled for a type of unknown, gargantuan seal. A seal with both a long neck and tail and one that to all intents and purposes, resembled a plesiosaur. His conclusions were based on the scientific knowledge available at the time and his own imaginative but limited interpretation of the evidence. This reasoning took the form of a creature that he proposed was a missing link between the cetacea (whales) and pinnipeds (seals), a notion that would not be accepted by science today. The beast he formerly created became known as `Megophias` or `big snake`, a name that had previously been cited for the sea serpent by an earlier naturalist, Constantin Rafinesque-Schmaltz.
`Megophias` after Ouedemans.
Megophias was a mammoth beast, a true combination of seal and plesiosaur, conveniently covering all the characteristics and features of the sea serpent representing the definitive cosmopolitan culprit. Both revered and despised by science, it subsequently managed to paddle its way around the globe confusing both scientists and laymen alike with its striking reptilian appearance and prehistoric profile. While in 1930, in between theorising about giant newts, Commander Rupert T. Gould mused wisely on the possibility of such an animal in, "The Case For The Sea Serpent", it took zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans (1916-2001), to give it life in the late 1950s, albeit in a much revised form. Heuvelmans realised that Ouedemans was probably right in such a mammalian identity for one form of sea serpent and with the benefit of twentieth century scientific discovery and a wealth of corresponding accounts, came to a similar but more expanded view. Heuvelmans creature however, had lost its tail and much of its size; while its nostrils had centrally migrated to the top of its head, resulting in two quaint, snorkel like breathing tubes. Unlike Ouedemans though, Heuvelmans realised that the sea serpent was not just one animal, but a menagerie of both known and unknown ones and decided to set out to prove it. In his definitive and painstakingly researched work, "In The Wake Of The Sea Serpents", he analysed 587 reports of apparently unknown marine animals, dismissing 229 of them as hoaxes or mistaken identity, leaving him with 328 accounts that he considered valid descriptions. His methodology has at times been disputed and is perhaps faulted in certain respects but it has gone on to shape the science of cryptozoology to the present day. From the accounts that he studied, he deduced that there must be at least seven, as of yet, unknown forms of animal that could explain them, two of which, `The Merhorse` and `Long Neck`, were species of pinniped or seal.
The
Merhorse , after Heuvelmans.
`The Merhorse`, he proposed, was a large pinniped that had evolved a purely aquatic way of life and was characterised by its very big eyes, `horse` like head and long, flowing mane. It inhabited the twilight depths of the world’s oceans and was only rarely glimpsed at the surface by man revealing itself when it did so to be the archetypal `Sea Horse` of legend. The `Long Neck`, on the other hand, was a giant sea lion, which Hevelmans believed, was ecologically on the rise and truly cosmopolitan in its range worldwide. It had managed to evolve two breathing tubes for a more aquatic existence and was characterised by its long, flexible neck. Both animals were giants of the pinniped kingdom, the merhorse attaining a length of between 30-100ft. while the long neck managing perhaps a more conservative 15-65ft.
The `Long Neck` after
Heuvelmans. #
Subsequent authors have suggested that these two animals if they existed could be of the same species, the notable differences between them being due to their differing sexual characteristics, or sexual dimorphism as it is scientifically known. Whatever the truth, the long necked seal had arrived and went on to enjoy a brief period of popularity that it has not enjoyed since. This popularity culminated in the mid 1970s with the publishing of Peter Costello’s enchanting, " In Search Of Lake Monsters", in which he shamelessly promoted it as the definitive culprit behind all lake and sea monster accounts. This time however Heuvelmans beasts had merged, with a loss of snorkels but a sprouting of ears.
Costello`s beast.
Costello, inspired by Heuvelmans notion that the `long neck` and `merhorse` could be responsible for some typical lake monster and sea serpent sightings, went about gathering a comprehensive selection of such reports from around the world, bringing to light much information on the subject and formulating a blue print or future researchers as he did so. Sadly though, circumstance conspired against him, for no sooner had his book been published than `amazing` underwater photographs were obtained from Loch Ness, rekindling the possibility of plesiosaur existence along with the new discoveries which were being made about the creature and its kin. As a result after this time, the theory went into something of a decline, only resurfacing briefly in various books out of respect for Heuvelmans. Homage to the idea was briefly made by Professor Roy Mackal in the mid 1980s, in his book, "Searching For Hidden Animals", but in general the notion became unfashionable. Today, even in cryptozoological circles it remains unpopular.
Until I hope, now.
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