Diplocaulus Found
Professor Patrick Schembri, writing in the Sunday Times, reports of a new photo that's been making the email rounds showing a very strange looking animal captured in a bucket. Versions of the email variously claim that the animal was found either at Il-Maghluq in Marsascala, or in Bahrija. Schembri identifies the animal as none other than a Diplocaulus, extinct for 270 million years, which means that the photo almost definitely must be a hoax (either that or it's a major scientific discovery). He writes of the Diplocaulus: "The very distinctive head may have been an adaptation against predators, since the wide head would make Diplocaulus difficult to swallow, or it may have aided the animal to swim by acting as a hydrofoil. Like most other early amphibians, Diplocaulus lived in or near water. It probably fed on insects or fish. It was also considerably larger than the image doing the rounds suggests, since fossils as large as 80 cm in length have been discovered." (via The Anomalist) 
Posted By: Alex | Date: Sun Nov 21, 2004 | Permalink |
Total Comments: 15
Category: Animals, Photos/Videos
Category: Animals, Photos/Videos
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Page 1 of 1 pages
Hoax or no, that's still a pretty cool picture.
Posted by Lucy on Mon Nov 22, 2004 at 07:19 AM
It looks like a rubber toy.
Posted by PlantPerson on Mon Nov 22, 2004 at 08:39 AM
I found this: http://www.cryptozoology.com/sightings/sightings_show.php?id=971 about a sighting.
And another discussion on whether or not this is a hoax: http://www.cryptozoology.com/forum/topic_view_thread.php?tid=11&pid=145808 , this also has links for other pictures of them.
Posted by Maegan in Tampa, FL - USA on Mon Nov 22, 2004 at 11:11 AM
And another discussion on whether or not this is a hoax: http://www.cryptozoology.com/forum/topic_view_thread.php?tid=11&pid=145808 , this also has links for other pictures of them.
Hoax or not, I'm sure it will show up on the evolution-disbelievers' websites asap.
Posted by cvirtue on Mon Nov 22, 2004 at 11:17 AM
i didn't know malta was big enough to hold a university
Posted by Johnå¨ on Mon Nov 22, 2004 at 03:29 PM
It doesnå«t look 100% real to me,but itå«s a cool animal.I hope it exists.
Posted by Evey on Mon Nov 22, 2004 at 04:06 PM
- Diplocaulus image source found
http://www.perspectivas.com.mx/noticias/
Posted by Kentaro Mori on Tue Nov 23, 2004 at 01:44 AM
http://www.perspectivas.com.mx/noticias/
It was fun while it lasted...
Posted by Lothar Ignatius on Tue Nov 23, 2004 at 04:42 PM
Oh, first thing I did was emailing Prof. Schembri about that. He kindly thanked, very nice. I also emailed The Anomalist, they also thanked and linked to the find. Then, I also posted the comment here 
Posted by Kentaro Mori on Thu Nov 25, 2004 at 09:27 PM
im studying diplocaulus for extinked anamals or nerly extinked. Ps. i am bad at spelling : )
Posted by doug in 1234 robson street on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 08:02 AM
This isnt real. It was made by a Japanese artist.
Posted by J on Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 11:21 PM
Does anyone have proof that this was made by an artist, such as the artist's name or web site? (Until then I am believing that this is a live little creature in a bucket.) I tried looking in the Perspectivas archives, but they were not to be found.
Posted by Narwhal in oregon on Sat Oct 27, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Considering that I have searched and no known toy manufacturers make this model with a curved tail, lack of color, and leathery skin, (evident from the picture). I would like to know where the model come from... Further more, the picture is not Photoshoped. Also this model is either a really professional model, of UN-COMPROMISED quality, or real. Notice that the skin in the image has imperfections, that the bone structure while flowing is flawed and bent at irregular angles. Overall, If I had the resources I would be diligently seeking for the taker of this photograph, as I have doubts that it is fake. People cannot be quick to dismiss things simply because scientific hypothesis state that this animal is extinct. Remember a hypothesis is only an educated guess, that seems to fit.
Posted by Natdog in Nashville, TN on Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 07:53 AM
Man, you see detail in that photo that I can't, Natdog. It just looks like a nifty toy to me (the feet look particularly unlifelike), but that doesn't mean that's what it is. I'm not dismissing it, I just don't see the miracle that you do. It would be really cool if it were a diplocaulus, but I can't tell much of anything from this photo.
Posted by Kathleen in Indiana, USA on Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 01:22 PM
I went to a friends house, they used to have a swamp on their property, unfortunately it dried up recently. I was playing man-hunt out their and I swear I saw 2 of them.
Posted by AJ on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:51 AM
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