Every culture has its mythical creatures, and in Scotland the Loch Ness monster is one of the most legendary. The large lake has reportedly been home to the monster for years, entering the popular imagination in the 1930s. For generations, people around the world have had their own theories and ideas as to what, or who, the monster could be. Scientists now think that the Loch Ness monster could be an eel.
Last year, scientists did a DNA survey of Loch Ness in 2018, but there wasn’t much luck. It has long been thought by Nessie enthusiasts that the ‘monster’ might be some sort of reptile, or a large fish like a shark, but no DNA to back up these claims were found by the scientists.
Could the Loch Ness monster be a fish?
Eel DNA was found in the water samples taken from Loch Ness. Whether that means there is a large eel that could have been mistaken for a ‘monster’ is up for discussion, but it might mean that we finally have an explanation for this mythical creature that has captured our imaginations for decades.
Then again, it’s not fresh news that eels live in Loch Ness. The slender fish are commonplace around Europe, including in the United Kingdom, and have previously been spotted in the lake. Other species to inhabit Loch Ness include the common sturgeon, salmon, and trout – none of these are likely to be the Loch Ness monster, though.
We’ll find out one day
People might be disappointed. It’s not the most exciting result, especially when some people thought that the Loch Ness monster might have been a throwback to the plesiosaurs of the Jurassic period. But, not all hope has been lost. Professor Neil Gemmell led the team of scientists, and he said that “there is still a lot of uncertainty in our work.”
Perhaps the Loch Ness monster is still really out there, hanging out with Bigfoot and the Yeti somewhere. It could be scary like these guys, or it might be harmless. Or maybe it’s just a really big eel? Who knows – the good thing is that nothing is certain, and anything could be true. What do you think?
For more weird facts about rivers and lakes, check out this story.
