What Could Monaco's Sea Monsters Really Be?

Introduction

Monaco’s sea-monster stories become much less mysterious once you look at the animals that actually live offshore. The Principality sits on the edge of the Ligurian Sea, one of the Mediterranean’s richest areas for large marine life. Fin whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, beaked whales, dolphins, sharks and giant rays all occur in or near the waters protected by the Pelagos Sanctuary, a marine reserve jointly supported by Monaco, France and Italy.[Pelagos Sanctuary]pelagos-sanctuary.orgPelagos SanctuaryPelagos Sanctuary - Home - Pelagos SanctuarySPECIES · Striped dolphin · Bottlenose dolphin · Common dolphin · Cuvier's b…

That does not mean every strange sighting has a simple explanation. Brief observations from moving boats, poor light, rough seas and the tendency to see only part of an animal can turn ordinary wildlife into something extraordinary. When witnesses report a long, dark body, a line of humps or an enormous creature surfacing unexpectedly, they are often describing exactly the sort of visual puzzle that has fuelled sea-serpent traditions for centuries.[Reddit]reddit.comhow do you account for the sighting of the sea serpent's…Groups of dolphins/whales surfacing to breathe but not jumping out of t…

What Could Monaco’s Sea Monsters Really Be?

The strongest sceptical explanation for Monaco-linked sea-monster reports is not one specific animal but a collection of real marine species whose appearance changes dramatically depending on distance, weather and viewing angle.

The Ligurian Sea is famous among marine biologists because it regularly hosts large cetaceans. Eight species of whales and dolphins are considered regular inhabitants of the Pelagos Sanctuary, including fin whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, Risso’s dolphins and Cuvier’s beaked whales.[Pelagos Sanctuary]pelagos-sanctuary.orgPelagos SanctuaryPelagos Sanctuary - Home - Pelagos SanctuarySPECIES · Striped dolphin · Bottlenose dolphin · Common dolphin · Cuvier's b…

A witness who sees only fragments of one of these animals may honestly describe something that sounds far stranger than it really was.

Whales and Dolphins Seen in Fragments

The most convincing source of “sea serpent” impressions is probably whales and dolphins viewed incompletely.

A fin whale can exceed 20 metres in length and regularly feeds in the Ligurian Sea. When only portions of its back break the surface, observers may see a sequence of dark humps rather than a single animal. A surfacing whale can also produce a tall blow that draws attention away from the true shape of the body.[Wikipedia]WikipediaMediterranean cetaceansMediterranean cetaceans

Dolphins create an even more deceptive effect. A pod travelling in line may surface one after another, producing the illusion of a single long creature undulating through the water. Modern discussions of historical sea-serpent reports frequently point to this mechanism because the individual animals can disappear beneath the surface while the next animal emerges a few metres away, creating the appearance of a continuous body.[Reddit]reddit.comhow do you account for the sighting of the sea serpent's…Groups of dolphins/whales surfacing to breathe but not jumping out of t…

Several species found near Monaco are especially suited to this kind of misidentification:

Historically, many famous sea-serpent reports elsewhere in the world have later been reinterpreted as whale sightings. Some classic nineteenth-century “serpents” are now thought to have been feeding whales viewed under unusual conditions.[Strange Animals Podcast]strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.netStrange Animals PodcastDaedalus sea serpent | Strange Animals Podcast14 May 2018 — It's probable that both sightings, and probably many o…Published: May 2018

Sharks, Rays and Deep-Sea Remains

Not every monster candidate in Monaco’s waters is a whale.

The Ligurian Sea supports large sharks and rays, including basking sharks and spinetail devil rays. Basking sharks are particularly important in sea-monster history because they are enormous, slow-moving and often swim near the surface. A partially visible basking shark can appear much longer than it really is, especially when waves hide parts of the body.[Important Shark Ray Areas]sharkrayareas.orgOpen source on sharkrayareas.org.

The Mediterranean also contains numerous shark species, including some capable of reaching impressive sizes. Although encounters are uncommon, a large shark glimpsed briefly can easily become exaggerated in retellings.[Deep Sea World]deepseaworld.comDeep Sea World Shark Species in the Mediterranean SeaDeep Sea World Shark Species in the Mediterranean Sea

Another recurring source of monster stories is the discovery of damaged carcasses. Decomposition can radically alter an animal’s appearance. Shark carcasses in particular may lose parts of the head and jaws in ways that leave behind a long-necked silhouette. Around the world, such remains have repeatedly been mistaken for unknown marine creatures before closer examination identified them as ordinary animals.[Facebook]facebook.comOpen source on facebook.com.

Occasionally, deep-sea species can also inspire monster speculation. Oarfish, famous for their ribbon-like bodies and great length, are frequently cited as one possible origin for sea-serpent traditions. Although sightings are rare, they demonstrate that genuinely unusual-looking animals inhabit deeper waters beyond normal human observation.[Wikipedia]WikipediaSea serpentSea serpent

Wave Trains, Wakes and Optical Illusions

Sometimes there is no animal at all.

Marine environments are exceptionally good at creating misleading visual effects. Long wave trains can generate a series of evenly spaced humps that resemble the back of a giant creature. Boat wakes crossing one another may create moving shapes that appear alive. Reflections, haze and low-angle sunlight can exaggerate size and distort distance.[EBSCO]ebsco.comSea serpents | Social Sciences and HumanitiesThroughout history, sailors have reported sightings of sea serpents, which are often be…

These effects become more convincing when combined with a real animal. A dolphin pod travelling through a line of waves can appear larger and more continuous than it really is. A whale surfacing amid choppy water may seem to possess multiple humps or an impossibly long body.[Reddit]reddit.comhow do you account for the sighting of the sea serpent's…Groups of dolphins/whales surfacing to breathe but not jumping out of t…

This helps explain why sincere witnesses sometimes provide dramatically different descriptions of the same event. They are not necessarily inventing details; they are trying to interpret a rapidly changing scene in a difficult visual environment.

Why Monaco Produces Better Monster Stories Than Monster Evidence

Monaco occupies an unusual position in sea-monster history. The country is associated with maritime exploration, oceanography and the long scientific tradition established by Prince Albert I. At the same time, it overlooks waters that genuinely contain some of the Mediterranean’s largest and least familiar animals.[Pelagos Sanctuary]pelagos-sanctuary.orgPelagos SanctuaryPelagos Sanctuary - Home - Pelagos SanctuarySPECIES · Striped dolphin · Bottlenose dolphin · Common dolphin · Cuvier's b…

That combination creates ideal conditions for mystery-animal stories. Witnesses are not looking into empty water. They are looking into a sea inhabited by fin whales, sperm whales, beaked whales, dolphins, sharks and giant rays.[pelagos-sanctuary.org]pelagos-sanctuary.orgPelagos SanctuaryPelagos Sanctuary - Home - Pelagos SanctuarySPECIES · Striped dolphin · Bottlenose dolphin · Common dolphin · Cuvier's b…

The most likely explanation for Monaco’s sea-monster sightings is therefore not a hidden species waiting to be discovered. It is the repeated encounter between people and a surprisingly rich marine ecosystem, viewed through distance, weather, waves and human imagination. In a place where genuinely enormous animals are already present, the boundary between a whale sighting and a sea-serpent story can become very thin indeed.[pelagos-sanctuary.org]pelagos-sanctuary.orgPelagos SanctuaryPelagos Sanctuary - Home - Pelagos SanctuarySPECIES · Striped dolphin · Bottlenose dolphin · Common dolphin · Cuvier's b…

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to What Could Monaco's Sea Monsters Really Be?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

The Search for the Giant Squid

By Richard Ellis

Shows how real animals can inspire monster reports.

See on Amazon

Book

Monsters of the Sea

By Richard Ellis

Examines natural explanations behind legendary sightings.

See on Amazon

Book

Abominable Science!

By Daniel Loxton, Donald R. Prothero

Explains how misidentifications create monster traditions.

See on Amazon

Book

Sharks of the World

By Leonard J. V. Compagno, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Relevant to large marine animals often mistaken for monsters.

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon:The Search for the Giant SquidMonsters of the SeaAbominable Science!

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Endnotes

1. Source: pelagos-sanctuary.org
Link:https://pelagos-sanctuary.org/

2. Source: reddit.com
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/CuratedTumblr/comments/1dubi9d/how_do_you_account_for_the_sighting_of_the_sea/

3. Source: ebsco.com
Link:https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/sea-serpents

4. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Tethys Research Institute
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethys_Research_Institute

5. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Mediterranean cetaceans
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_cetaceans

6. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Sea serpent
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_serpent

7. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1002571683091379/posts/27453872354201285/

8. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligurian_Sea_Cetacean_Sanctuary

9. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/FondationPrinceAlbertIIdeMonaco/posts/how-well-do-we-really-know-the-sea-just-beyond-our-coastlinespanning-87500-km%C2%B2-b/1453675656801564/

10. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/worldatlas/posts/why-did-ancient-sailors-believe-the-ocean-was-filled-with-monsters-and-serpents-/1202216728612922/

11. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/WIONews/videos/monster-from-the-deep-returns-great-white-shark-filmed-in-the-mediterranean-for-/975609115458871/

12. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2307932152741669/posts/3168162353385307/

13. Source: youtube.com
Title: PELAGOS SANCTUARY
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvnPUxq4nfU

14. Source: wewhale.co
Title: the pelagos sanctuary
Link:https://wewhale.co/2022/10/06/the-pelagos-sanctuary/

15. Source: strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net
Link:https://strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net/tag/daedalus-sea-serpent/

Published: May 2018

16. Source: sharkrayareas.org
Link:https://sharkrayareas.org/wp-content/uploads/isra-factsheets/03MedBlackSeas/Ligurian-Sea-03MedBlackSeas.pdf

17. Source: deepseaworld.com
Title: Deep Sea World Shark Species in the Mediterranean Sea
Link:https://www.deepseaworld.com/blog/16-shark-species-in-the-mediterranean-sea/

18. Source: 1066.co.nz
Title: Sea serpent
Link:https://www.1066.co.nz/Mosaic%20DVD/stamford%20bridge/Sea%20serpent.htm

Additional References

19. Source: ecobnb.com
Title: pelagos cetacean sanctuary liguria
Link:https://ecobnb.com/blog/2024/09/pelagos-cetacean-sanctuary-liguria/

20. Source: worldrise.org
Link:https://worldrise.org/en/pelagos-sanctuary/

21. Source: youtube.com
Title: Cetaceans of the Pelagos Sanctuary
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhEghYmfx6A

22. Source: instagram.com
Link:https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZZP_AfNA1i/

23. Source: anthropocenes.net
Link:https://www.anthropocenes.net/article/931/galley/4830/view/

24. Source: terna.it
Link:https://www.terna.it/en/projects/sapei/santuario-pelagos

25. Source: bmcseatours.com
Link:https://www.bmcseatours.com/en/

26. Source: youtube.com
Title: Menkab: Safeguarding the Ligurian Sea
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOzZPsG2TPM

27. Source: youtube.com
Title: The Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammal, aims and goals [1/4]
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G1DXUk02Ys

28. Source: youtube.com
Title: Ligurian Sea: The Cetacean Sanctuary in Italy | Italia Slow Tour
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgzTslYys1k