Canadian “Alligators”
Location: British Columbia, Canada.
Time: Allegedly sighted in 1900, 1915 and 1973, other sightings collected in 1998. Numerous other sightings, and supposed links to Native American folklore.
Various sightings in British Columbia and surrounding areas describe large, lizard-like aquatic creatures dwelling in ponds and lakes. The first uncovered sighting was Warren Scott, who allegedly found a “lost valley” where black “alligators” with horns apparently lived. Another supporter of his “alligator story” supposedly caught some young individuals, and dissected them, making drawings of the anatomy. Many other interesting sightings involve black “lizards” or “alligators” in this part of Canada, as well as Native American myths and legends. Warren Scott has been revealed to not be a trustworthy source, by other cryptozoologists, so his story may have been fabricated.
This creature sounds decidedly un-alligator-like, it is claimed to have horns, and smooth skin, as well as webbed feet, none of these features are typical of alligators. Cryptozoologists have noted that British Columbia is far too cold for alligators, or any large reptile, and that this creature could be an amphibian. Stories of both lake monsters, and giant reptiles are typical mythic motifs in many parts of the world, so all that these sightings probably amount to is folklore and tall tales. There seems to be no candidate for the real “canadian alligator”, and so it remains yet another obscure, forgotten cryptozoological case, with no resolution in sight.
But what if Warren Scott really did see something? We can speculate that the Canadian “alligator” would be more aptly named the Giant Canadian Waterhound (Meganecturus niger). It is a very large, black-skinned salamander, related to the Mudpuppy and Waterdog; it reaches lengths of up to 10 feet, but grows very slowly. The dark skin colour allows it to retain heat in the colder climate of its Canadian home, and it possesses external gills, that can be mistaken for horns. This amphibian is able to crawl onto land for periods of time in order to travel between bodies of water, or feed, during these excursions it will retract its gills into a pouch on its neck. They more commonly come ashore when the air is damp or misty, or even during rain. Feeding mainly on fish and crabs, but also taking snakes, insects, and small birds, the Giant Canadian Waterhound usually prefers to inhabit lakes or ponds that are relatively undisturbed, being sensitive to pollution and disturbance by humans.
Location: British Columbia, Canada.
Time: Allegedly sighted in 1900, 1915 and 1973, other sightings collected in 1998. Numerous other sightings, and supposed links to Native American folklore.
Various sightings in British Columbia and surrounding areas describe large, lizard-like aquatic creatures dwelling in ponds and lakes. The first uncovered sighting was Warren Scott, who allegedly found a “lost valley” where black “alligators” with horns apparently lived. Another supporter of his “alligator story” supposedly caught some young individuals, and dissected them, making drawings of the anatomy. Many other interesting sightings involve black “lizards” or “alligators” in this part of Canada, as well as Native American myths and legends. Warren Scott has been revealed to not be a trustworthy source, by other cryptozoologists, so his story may have been fabricated.
This creature sounds decidedly un-alligator-like, it is claimed to have horns, and smooth skin, as well as webbed feet, none of these features are typical of alligators. Cryptozoologists have noted that British Columbia is far too cold for alligators, or any large reptile, and that this creature could be an amphibian. Stories of both lake monsters, and giant reptiles are typical mythic motifs in many parts of the world, so all that these sightings probably amount to is folklore and tall tales. There seems to be no candidate for the real “canadian alligator”, and so it remains yet another obscure, forgotten cryptozoological case, with no resolution in sight.
But what if Warren Scott really did see something? We can speculate that the Canadian “alligator” would be more aptly named the Giant Canadian Waterhound (Meganecturus niger). It is a very large, black-skinned salamander, related to the Mudpuppy and Waterdog; it reaches lengths of up to 10 feet, but grows very slowly. The dark skin colour allows it to retain heat in the colder climate of its Canadian home, and it possesses external gills, that can be mistaken for horns. This amphibian is able to crawl onto land for periods of time in order to travel between bodies of water, or feed, during these excursions it will retract its gills into a pouch on its neck. They more commonly come ashore when the air is damp or misty, or even during rain. Feeding mainly on fish and crabs, but also taking snakes, insects, and small birds, the Giant Canadian Waterhound usually prefers to inhabit lakes or ponds that are relatively undisturbed, being sensitive to pollution and disturbance by humans.