The Kraken Exists
The Find
Well it used to at least. That is according to Mount Holyoke College paleontologist Mark McMenamin.
He presented his case to an annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Minneapolis.
He claims that whilst studying the bones of some Ichthyosaurs, it became apparent that several had broken necks. The proportion that had broken necks would appear to be more than usually would be expected from natural causes.
This led him to consider what could have broken their necks and why.
He also found signs of broken ribs, more than would seem natural, again why?
On closer inspection he found that there were sucker like shapes around the bones. He concluded that some animal with suckers, like an octopus, must have either broken their necks or crushed their ribs but what?
Size
Given that the Ichthyosaur was an estimated 45ft long and considered to be at the top of the food chain for its period, something was missing. How come no bones had been found of a larger animal?
McMenamin concluded that the animal that preyed on the Ichthyosaur must have been a soft bodied creature, much like an octopus or squid, they would leave no bones.
He suggests that such a creature existed and preyed on Ichthyosaurs, breaking their necks or ribs then carrying them to its lair to drown and be eaten. This is a practice that is similarly used by some octopus today.
If this were true then it will be difficult to prove, given that there will be no skeleton to be found.
Kraken
The Kraken is supposed to be a creature that only existed in Greek mythology. A huge octopus like creature that could devour ships, it was feared by all seamen.
As well as Greek mythology it has more recently been depicted in works of fiction. Sending Captain Nemo to shore and striking fear in the hearts of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
What if the Kraken is not just a thing of myth? What if it had once existed? Could it still exist today?
Even though we have ventured into space and even mapped other planets, we still do not know what exists at the bottom of our oceans.
We know that Giant Squids exist but have not yet been able to catch a live one. Just like Sperm Whales like to feed on Giant Squids, is there yet another creature that feeds on Whales?
When will scientists pay less attention and money trying to find life on other planets and turn their interest to finding out all the creatures that exist on our own planet?
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