Holy Crap, What Is This Horrifying Monster That Washed Up In San Diego?

a reply to: lostbook

It is an elusive, little know, and even less understood breed of geoaquatic sunbasking slumbering until interred creatures know as...........

THE WATERPUPPY!

They sleep very sound whilst basking in the hot sun often to the point of looking as dryed out as jerky, like this little fella, and often will not awaken until after they are covered over by earth.
Then under the seclusion of night they extricate themselves from their earthly covering and slip back into the sea and back into obscurity............

It's a baby sea badger, no doubt about it.

So THATS where i left it . Thanks

It could be a sea tortoise, with shell off.
Some have some very strange tooth arrangements.

a reply to: longy9999

No sloths in the US so no. You are thinking of a South American image.
Montauk was likely a fur-less raccoon.

However, I'm not sure what this is. It's canines are huge and extend well below the bottom jaw unless it is a trick of perception.

originally posted by: charlyv
It could be a sea tortoise, with shell off.
Some have some very strange tooth arrangements.

No. Sea turtles don't have teeth, let alone carnivores teeth and giant canines. Also, there is no "with the shell off" their spines are connected to their shells.

dbl post

originally posted by: whyamIhere
Badger from Catalina Island.

That's a winner. White hair on top, and giant canines.

a reply to: GogoVicMorrow

I zoomed in on the photos 250%

I'm convinced the canines, eye and white fur patch are all photoshopped or enhanced some how.
teeth drawn in to look much larger
eye drawn in (Waterpuppies sleep with their beady little eyes closed)
And the white "mohawk".........just plain corny.

Still a Waterpuppy though.

a reply to: Eunuchorn

damn!

Baby is cute an just curios

But, Momma looks mad.......and HUGE!

Those Water Badgers are awesome creatures

originally posted by: GogoVicMorrow

originally posted by: whyamIhere
Badger from Catalina Island.

That's a winner. White hair on top, and giant canines.

A badger washed up in Santa Barbara and has been documented this one that washed up in San Diego is simply a possum.


It is bloated and the toes have rotted off but it is definitely a possum. The pic gives you a deceptive perception that it is bigger than it actually is.

a reply to: grubblesnert

No. They aren't. Look up a badger. White fur just like that. Canines exactly like that.
Look up there teeth.

a reply to: Grimpachi

No. I kill possums all the time. Canines are not nearly as big and they don't have giant white patches of fur on their head.
I bet you a pound of silver it's a badger.

a reply to: GogoVicMorrow

Are you sure you want to make that bet?

I wasn't sure at first but after looking around on the web it has already been confirmed as an opossum by some science parks and recreation types.

I can't believe you thought it was a badger. It doesn't have any characteristic of a badger.

a reply to: GogoVicMorrow

The photo on the left appears, to me, to have been manipulated.

I don't know what this critter is, badger whatever, except dead.

Still thinkin' it could be a Waterpuppy... (see details in my previous post)

P.S. I've found you have to be careful what you "look up" these days. Unless you get permission first you may get slapped!
(re: old joke)

a reply to: Grimpachi

Yes. Badger. Oppossums do not have canines that large, badgers do.


Badger teeth:


Badger hair fur:


Opossum canines (much thinner and don't extend below bottom jaw):


Opossum head fur coloration has great in it:


So do you need my address to send that pound of silver?

a reply to: GogoVicMorrow

Based soley on the pics you provided (I've never seen a badger in real life) I have to say "Yes Badger" too.

'possums & 'coons I've a lot of upclose time with both dead and alive (used to raise chickens)

and can attest that dead thing it is neither.

Scratch my initial Waterpuppy hope/theory too.

I'm with you, Badger!

originally posted by: GogoVicMorrow
a reply to: Grimpachi

Yes. Badger.

Badger. Badger. Badger badger badger badger. Mushroom mushroom. SNAAAAAKE!

a reply to: grimpachi

Can I get those in engelhard bars ; p