Sea Monster of the Medit
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erranean Sea.
Physical description: Red crest or mane. Red
(bloodshot ) eyes. Fl ickering t ongue. Venomous
fangs. Immense coil s.
Behavior: Kil l s by const rict ion.
Distribution: Aegean Sea.
Significant sighting: The Trojan priest Laocoön
(responsibl e for t he warning about
“Greeks bearing gift s” in sending t he Trojan
horse) and his t wo sons were st rangl ed by sea
snakes whil e t hey were sacrificing at t he al t ar of
Poseidon on t he seacoast . The snakes were said
t o have come from Bozca Ada Isl and, not far
from ancient Troy along t he coast of Çanakkal e
Province, Turkey.
Possible explanation: The harml ess, crest ed
Oarfish (Regalecus glesne), t he most elongat ed
bony fish in t he worl d, is found in t he Medit erranean.
Though t his is oft en a deep-sea fish, it is
somet imes found dead or dying at t he surface.