Mystery shrouds the skeleton of an enigmatic creature that washed ashore on a Scottish beach during Storm Ciara.
The intriguing beast was discovered on the Aberdeenshire coastline on Sunday, as the country battled 90mph winds and torrential rain from Storm Ciara.
A photograph of the creature shared on a Facebook page sparked hundreds of theories about its identity. Some suggested it was a whale or a dolphin, while others dismissed these ideas, pointing to the creature’s “horns” and suggesting it might be a thresher shark, which occasionally visits British waters in summer. Even marine biologists are perplexed, with Professor David Lusseau from the University of Aberdeen stating that he needs more information to make an accurate identification.
He told MailOnline: “Unfortunately, from just this photo, we can’t determine much beyond it being some form of whale. We would need shots of the front end (and probably a bit of hands-on examination) to identify it.”
Despite the uncertainty, people eagerly shared their opinions.
James Trippington commented: “Very similar to Orca or Dolphin. But the caudal vertebrae look rather slim. Definitely not a shark though.”
Andrew Mowat disagreed, saying: “The spine looks designed for side-to-side movement. Whales move up and down.”
Others humorously suggested it could be the Loch Ness Monster, speculating that the beast might have escaped from its alleged home about 100 miles away.
Brian Ingram quipped: “Nessie! Escaped to the sea but then came to a sticky end.” Emma-Louise Bolland added: “Nessie. Couldn’t adapt to salt water.”
Another joked: “It’s a very, very rarely seen deep sea Haggis.”
The Loch Ness Monster has long been a part of Scottish legend, with dozens of supposed sightings claimed each year. Last year saw a surge in alleged sightings, with 18 reported—more than any year since 1983, when “Nessie-mania” was at its peak.
Storm Ciara unleashed 97mph winds, up to seven inches of rain, and widespread flooding, leaving more than 20,000 people without power.
Now, Britain is bracing for more severe weather with ‘blizzard conditions’ and heavy rain expected today. As flood-hit areas recover, the country faces a 72-hour deluge with Storm Dennis set to arrive this weekend.
