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Strange dead reptile - Scotland |
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bktheman
Member Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Posted: 14 Jun 2004 at 9:16pm |
Recently (13th June 2003) on a walk by sand dunes at Aberlady bay in East Lothian, Scotland, I came across what appeared to be a dead lizard. The tail was long and pointed. Not much of the animal remained, only the backbone and tail really, however the scaly skin was still visible which appeared to have several rows of spikes (like little sharks teeth) running the length of the spine and someway down the tail. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? |
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test
Member Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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wild guess, but possibly a pet green iguana? |
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Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 374 |
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How big was it?
WW |
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Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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Donny
Senior Member Joined: 11 May 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 70 |
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As we all know, Scotland is in fact home to one of the UK's, if not the world's, rarest reptiles....So, did your lizard look anything like this? Edited by Donny |
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bktheman
Member Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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I went back to the site the other day, picked up the remains, and took it to the local nature reserve warden. I must say he was a bit puzzled too. He said it was too big (over a foot long) to be any of our native lizards. After thinking about it for a while, I thought the only other thing it could probably have been (considering it was found by the sea) is perhaps a Thornback Ray or Roker, this would explain the "teeth" down the back and long tail as well as the scaly skin. There wasn't much else left of the animal, but I guess the local scavangers ripped off and ate most of the meaty parts and dropped the bony tail and indigestible parts some way behind the sand dunes. (Honestly, it really did look like some weird reptile remains!) Of course, I am still holding out for confirmation of the nessie theory. I'll keep you all posted if I get any update from the Warden. |
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test
Member Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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LOL Donny, if they ever do find nessie it will put an end to people complaining about the UK's 'impoverished' reptile biodiversity!
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Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
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or even a water dragon |
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RobV
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j gaughan
Senior Member Joined: 04 May 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 57 |
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In the cold light of day (just), i'm afraid to say this thing has never existed _but this (sad) fact hasn't dampened my interest in the LNM; i've followed it since the mid-1970's, collecting some lovely old books along the way
As for 'sea serpents' . . . now that's a different kettle of fish I'm prepared to stick my neck out on these, as elusive as they are . . . John |
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