[Smugfish]

Mattshark, on 13 November 2009 - 01:03 PM, said:

That is not same at all and you know it. They are presenting their own repeatable evidence. Eyewitnesses are simply not accepted as evidence in scientific work and are not used in zoological work. This is by things like bigfoot and nessie are rejected in zoology.

So your opinion is better than sir David Attenborough's is it? That's what you're saying, right? He says that he believes in the yeti (did you see the interview on Jonathan Ross?), and he's a real expert, unlike yourself.

So how do you justify your statement that an unknown kelp forest mammal can't exist in scotland because there's not enough food??

[Smugfish]

Smugfish, on 13 November 2009 - 11:46 AM, said:

That's rich coming from someone who sent me a PM stating that they think SpringHeel Jack and the JD are the same thing but are in fact Aliens from outerspace just here to scare us!!

ELL; you haven't replied to this post. Do you think that the views of someone who thinks that the Jersey Devil is an alien from outerspace should be taken seriously? But then you say that anyone who believes in big foot or nessie is an idiot! So you also think that you're more qualified than sir david Attenborough with regard to the yeti, then? Unbelievable..

This post has been edited by Smugfish: 14 November 2009 - 10:21 AM

[Smugfish]

Mattshark, on 13 November 2009 - 04:41 PM, said:

Gas bladders are filled with a variety of gases including carbon monoxide, breathing is not sensible. Your idea is highly implausible.

You're a liar, once again. The gas bladders are filled with the main constituents of air; nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Some have a few percent of carbon monoxide. Introduction to the biology of marine life.

This post has been edited by Smugfish: 14 November 2009 - 10:11 AM

[Smugfish]

Mattshark, on 13 November 2009 - 12:31 PM, said:

..and being mammals would also have to give birth on the surface,..

I quote from wiki Sea otter:

Quote

..and in being able to live its entire life without leaving the water..

It would appear that the more likely ancestor of the 'mermaid' is the otter family, rather than the pinnipeds (which I admit I got confused about earlier).

Quote

The sea otter evolved initially in northern Hokkaidō and Russia, then spread east to the Aleutian Islands, mainland Alaska, and down the North American coast.[13] In comparison to cetaceans, sirenians, and pinnipeds, which entered the water approximately 50 mya, 40 mya, and 20 mya, respectively, the sea otter is a relative newcomer to a marine existence.[14] In some respects, however, the sea otter is more fully aquatically adapted than pinnipeds, which must haul out on land or ice to give birth.[15]

If the 'mermaid' sighting in Israel is genuine, then I would guess that the upper torso is covered in thick white fur, and resembles the fair skin of a female maiden from a distance.

Quote

The milk from a sea otter's two abdominal nipples is rich in fat and more similar to the milk of other marine mammals than to that of other mustelids.

The description of female breasts seen with the 'mermaid' sightings ties in with the known two nipples of the sea otter. Also note that sea otters all mate belly-to-belly, which is the only way that the 'mermaid' in the initial drawing could mate by the looks of things.

Attached File(s)

•  Mermaid-GiantOtter.jpg (58.95K)
  Number of downloads: 2
•  mermaidfur.jpg (123.11K)
  Number of downloads: 2

This post has been edited by Smugfish: 14 November 2009 - 11:31 AM

[Mattshark]

Smugfish, on 14 November 2009 - 09:45 AM, said:

So your opinion is better than sir David Attenborough's is it? That's what you're saying, right? He says that he believes in the yeti (did you see the interview on Jonathan Ross?), and he's a real expert, unlike yourself.

So how do you justify your statement that an unknown kelp forest mammal can't exist in scotland because there's not enough food??

You're missquoting.

Got any evidence of such an animal? No, didn't think so. This is isn't make believe world. You claimed it, you back it up. That's how it works. And when I say back it up I mean evidence, not conjecture, comic book biology or eye witnesses accounts.

Smugfish, on 14 November 2009 - 09:49 AM, said:

ELL; you haven't replied to this post. Do you think that the views of someone who thinks that the Jersey Devil is an alien from outerspace should be taken seriously? But then you say that anyone who believes in big foot or nessie is an idiot! So you also think that you're more qualified than sir david Attenborough with regard to the yeti, then? Unbelievable..

Well, what Yeti qualifications does David Attenborough have exactly?

Smugfish, on 14 November 2009 - 10:09 AM, said:

You're a liar, once again. The gas bladders are filled with the main constituents of air; nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Some have a few percent of carbon monoxide. Introduction to the biology of marine life.

Yes, it has Carbon monoxide in them, like I said. How is that lying exactly? I'd love you to explain that . It also still makes your suggestion remain pretty ridiculous.

Smugfish, on 14 November 2009 - 10:49 AM, said:

I quote from wiki Sea otter:

And sea otters are the norm are they? No, didn't think so.

Quote

It would appear that the more likely ancestor of the 'mermaid' is the otter family, rather than the pinnipeds (which I admit I got confused about earlier).

Big jump to make as there is absolutely no evidence of it and the fact that you are reliant on one species of otter to make such a conclusion.

Quote

If the 'mermaid' sighting in Israel is genuine, then I would guess that the upper torso is covered in thick white fur, and resembles the fair skin of a female maiden from a distance.The description of female breasts seen with the 'mermaid' sightings ties in with the known two nipples of the sea otter. Also note that sea otters all mate belly-to-belly, which is the only way that the 'mermaid' in the initial drawing could mate by the looks of things.

And If magic is real then I can fly on a broomstick and visit Hogwarts. Of course the Med is only the most polluted sea in the world and has been extensively fish and explored for well over 4000 years and no way near the range Enhydra lutris, which is in isolation in the northern Pacific and the local otter species for Israel, Lutra lutra, just doesn't fit the fantasy does it.

Oh can you see any nipples on here?

This post has been edited by Mattshark: 14 November 2009 - 01:22 PM

[Drunkenparrot]

Smugfish, on 14 November 2009 - 10:09 AM, said:

You're a liar, once again. The gas bladders are filled with the main constituents of air; nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Some have a few percent of carbon monoxide. Introduction to the biology of marine life.

From http://linnet.geog.u...tis%20luetkeana

The upper end of the stipe is enlarged to form a pneumatocyst, or float, and the gas in the stipe and pneumatocyst can contain up to 10% carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide is a poison of hemoglobin, but kelps do not, of course, contain hemoglobin).

[BXV2]

why does it have to be just one creature mistaken for a mermaid? if you had been out as sea for months on end and given that in the days back then a "large" woman was the desired look why would a manetee, sea cow or giant otter not be mistaken for a half human half fish creature from a far distance... also keep in mind that drawings of that time could very well have been imbelleshed to make them apear more human than not.

[HAJiME]

Don't manatee's have their mammary glans on their chest like humans? Which makes them a perfect candidate. Most people are likely unaware that they and elephants and such have boobies.

Manatee's don't ever come on land, though, do they?

[Mattshark]

HAJiME, on 15 November 2009 - 01:12 PM, said:

Don't manatee's have their mammary glans on their chest like humans? Which makes them a perfect candidate. Most people are likely unaware that they and elephants and such have boobies.

Manatee's don't ever come on land, though, do they?

Manatees do indeed have their mammary glands on their chest like humans.

They don't come on land no. The parts on land are probably the reliable reports though.

[Smugfish]

Drunkenparrot, on 14 November 2009 - 08:04 PM, said:

From http://linnet.geog.u...tis%20luetkeana

The upper end of the stipe is enlarged to form a pneumatocyst, or float, and the gas in the stipe and pneumatocyst can contain up to 10% carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide is a poison of hemoglobin, but kelps do not, of course, contain hemoglobin).

But not all pneumatocysts contain CO do they?! The clue is in the name; pneu = air! An otter could potentially be able to smell or taste the difference between a poisonous one and a pure air filled one.

There's no good reason why an sea otter couldn't evolve to eat the nutritous seaweed itself, is there?! Biting into a air bladder whilst in a coast-side den would begin an evolutionary advantage! The sea otter could stay submerged for a lot longer and eventually never need to go to the surface for air! Hence they stay elusive and protected!

[Paul Noise]

Smugfish, on 18 November 2009 - 08:33 AM, said:

But not all pneumatocysts contain CO do they?! The clue is in the name; pneu = air! An otter could potentially be able to smell or taste the difference between a poisonous one and a pure air filled one.

There's no good reason why an sea otter couldn't evolve to eat the nutritous seaweed itself, is there?! Biting into a air bladder whilst in a coast-side den would begin an evolutionary advantage! The sea otter could stay submerged for a lot longer and eventually never need to go to the surface for air! Hence they stay elusive and protected!

And if they learned to eat pigs, they could have bacon for the rest of their lives. Just because it's a possibility, doesn't make it a plausibility.

[Smugfish]

Paul Noise, on 18 November 2009 - 02:16 PM, said:

And if they learned to eat pigs, they could have bacon for the rest of their lives. Just because it's a possibility, doesn't make it a plausibility.

I appreciate the acceptance of possibilty PN. I believe I've hit on the most likely answer to the Israeli sightings. It would explain the strangeness at least. Time will tell. If I lived in Israel near Haifa I'd invest in a quest to win the $million reward. There must be plenty of people thinking about doing the same. Cash rewards get results imo.