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"Theoretical speculation is futile unless it is supported by quantitative evidence."
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The Sarmatian Sea Snail was a very odd creature that was depicted by a medieval bestiary entitled On Monsters and Marvels, by a French surgeon named Ambroise Pare.
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Description[]
Pare's source for this creature was Andre de Thevet's 20th volume of Cosmography. In this book was a report of a massive, pawed, antlered, and completely grotesque gastropod from the Sarmatian (an early name for the Baltic) Sea. This wine cask thick "snail" was quickly distinguished by a numerous amount of unusual features. The first, and most noticeable, was the large, deer-like antlers it bore upon its head. At the end of each antler branch was a small, spherical bulb, resembling a pearl. While other gastropods' eyes sit upon optical stalks, this snail's eyes sat laterally upon its head. The even more odd thing about its eyes was the fact that they "glew like candles".
It even sported some feline features such as a cat-like nose and white whiskers! Below these whiskers hideously sat a wide slit of a mouth. While gastropods sport a locomotive "foot" this snail actually sported feet! Hooked paws to be more precise. It even boasted a lengthy, multi-colored and tiger-like tail. As a matter of fact, the only snail-like feature was its large, whorled shell.
Despite its hideous and somewhat comical appearance, it was said to be a very timid and calm creature, typically staying in deep water. While primarily amphibious, it did come up on land and feed on any seaweed growing underwater, or on the shore. Its twisted flesh was said to be very tasty and healthy to eat, and its blood was said to have medicinal properties, supposedly curing leprosy!
Explanation[]
The Sarmatian Sea Snail's peculiar appearance leaves experts with hardly any idea what to suggest. There are not many possibilities. Some experts have suggested a new species of amphibious gastropod, a deformed nudibranch, or misidentifications of other cryptids! Of course, most of these possibilities do not even closely resemble the supposed sea snail. Nudibranchs do not exceed 2 feet in length. What is this fantastic and frightening beast? You decide!
Gallery[]
See Also[]
- Lou Carcolh, another mollusk creature.