Conch-lers-
My local newspaper published a poor picture and labeled it an octopus.  I
suppose that is the latest best bet.
Allen Aigen

On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 18:22:23 -0400 "Harry G. Lee" <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
> Dear All,
>
> In a jolt of déjà-vu, I came to the realization that Chile may have
> played
> host to the long-awaited return of the "St. Augustine Sea Monster."
>
> Read about this bit of cryptozoology (apocrypha) at
> <http://www.jaxshells.org/0715a.htm>. References on request.
>
> Harry
>
>
> On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 15:18:05 -0400 "Monfils, Paul"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> Giant sea creature baffles Chilean scientists  Wednesday, July 2,
> 2003
> Posted: 1:32 PM EDT (1732 GMT)  SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) -- Chilean
> scientists were baffled on Tuesday by a huge, gelatinous sea
> creature found
> washed up on the southern Pacific coast and were seeking
> international help
> identifying the mystery specimen. The dead creature was mistaken for
> a
> beached whale when first reported about a week ago, but experts who
> went to
> see it said the 40-foot-long (12-meter) mass of decomposing lumpy
> grey
> flesh apparently was an invertebrate.  "We'd never before seen such
> a
> strange specimen, We don't know if it might be a giant squid that is
> missing some of its parts or maybe it's a new species," said Elsa
> Cabrera,
> director of the Center for Cetacean
> Conservation in Santiago. Photographs showed a round leathery
> substance
> like a mammoth jelly fish, about as long as a school bus. Giant
> squid live
> at a depth of 9,500 feet (3,000 meters) and only rise to the surface
> when
> they die. Specimens have been known to be as long as 60
> feet (18 meters). There was speculation that the mass might be a
> whale
> skin, but Cabrera said it was too big and did not have the right
> texture or
> smell. Cabrera said she was contacting Chilean and international
> organizations in the hope that they could help shed some light on
> the find.
>
>
>
>
> Harry G. Lee
> Suite 500
> 1801 Barrs St.
> Jacksonville, FL 32204
> USA
> Voice: 904-384-6419
> Fax: 904-388-6750
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
> www.jaxshells.org
>
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>
>