Truth be told there is not much of a family resemblance, but it did come from the sea (off Fujian province–close enough to Tokyo by my reckoning) and it could be the result of humans getting things out of kilter.
Here’s the lowdown from China.org.cn
An acaleph-like aquatic creature was spotted in Fuzhou, the capital city of southeastern China’s Fujian Province. The creature is yet to be identified.
The aquatic species, weighing dozens of kilograms, appears grey in the water. However, it turns transparent and jelly-like once fished out of water.
Several local fishermen who have been fishing in Zuohai sea for more than 10 years - where the aquatic creature was spotted - told the Strait News that they have never seen such a species before.
The biggest one they found was nearly one meter long and weighed some 40 kilograms. One of the creatures taken out of the water on Monday afternoon turned into a transparent glue-like substance in two days, with some green silk-like objects inside.
[Photo: Strait News]
“Acaleph-like,” if you haven’t guessed, refers to something resembling one of the Acalephæ: “a group of Cœlenterata, including the Medusæ or jellyfishes, and hydroids; — so called from the stinging power they possess. Sometimes called sea nettles.”
Although its hard to pick up from the pictures, the fisherman say that the creature sports “antennas at its rear end,” and “is only capable of drifting along in water currents.”
Local residents said that the unidentified “water monster” grew quickly, and were worried that it was caused by the polluted water.
[Photo: Strait News]
I don’t feel qualified to speak to the pollution-based origin question, but a killjoy “biologist”
whose name was not given, said the aquatic creature is most likely a kind of algae, not an animal. However, it’s [sic] unsure whether the creature is a sign that the Zuohai sea is polluted.
Of course, I know what you’re thinking: is it tasty?
3 responses so far ↓
1 nanheyangrouchuan // Jun 23, 2008 at 12:25 pm
“Cloverfield” is supposed to be a “nature takes revenge” movie but I just thought of it as a good chiller monster movie. Saw it three times and it didn’t get old.
This creature could be a flocculated colony of algea, whether that flocculation was voluntary or not is another question.
This could also be some form of sea cucumber that no one has know about simply due to a lack of sea floor exploration. If it is, something may have forced the animal to the surface…say lack of oxygen because of algea blooms?
Of course, down around New Zealand and Antarctica we have caught giant squid, starfish with 2 foot diameters, sea spiders with 5 foot leg spans, etc.
2 cmcelwee // Jun 23, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Now you’re talkin’, I love “flocculated colony of algea” sliced thin and grilled in a little olive oil with scallions, or cubed and tossed with soba noodles in a cold peanut sauce, or . . .
3 nanheyangrouchuan // Jun 25, 2008 at 2:02 am
now that you mention it, it does look like certain cold trip dishes I’ve had in China. Through a soy/vinegar mix on it and wash it down with a 70 degree F can of coke.
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