What Is It? See the Strange Thing
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on August 11th, 2006
Several days ago we received an email from artist Corona Smith. Following is the text of the email:
Hello, I am writing to inform you of a most unusual exhibition in the city of Kingston upon Hull, England.
The well preserved remains of a hitherto unknown creature are on display at Hull’s Maritime Museum until the 24th August.
The people of Hull have been making suggestions as to its origins, Zoologists are scratching their heads in wonder.
Click on image for full-size version
Below is the newspaper article that the above photograph was taken from. It gives information regarding the exhibit and the creature itself.
Click on image for full-size version
What is this creature that they are calling "Little Doug"? Is it some hithero unknown sea creature? Or is it just a gaff? Due to public demand, it has been held over to August 24. Do we have any UK Cryptomundo readers who can go see the exhibit?
Corona Smith’s blog has a full rundown on the exhibit, as well as on "Little Doug".
He has also posted 2 videos on YouTube.
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
Looks to me like a sculpture. Do we have any real authentication that the history of this object does indeed go back to the 40’s?
I agree modeled after the jersey devil at that. google pics of the jersey devil and look at the one done as a line drawing. there is no mistaking that handsome face. 🙂
This may make me sound dumb but if real what does everyone think covered its body Hair, Fur, Scales?
Would love to see the article as this is the first I have heard of ths. If it is a sculpture it is well done.
Frankly I am surprise no one has said it’s ALF yet. Don’t know what to think now.
Yet I have to laugh. My baby brother was given the same first name as our father so we call him by his middle name to avoid confusion. His middle name is Douglas, but the family says Doug.
It looks like it was carved of wood.
Interesting, but I speculate it is fabricated to generate publicity. Odd looking creature for sure! 🙂
Oh yeah, and is there a “Big Doug”? 😉
Which newspaper is this from? Because we here in the States have many interesting papers too, at the supermarket check-out!
The head is still, but the arms and legs look flabby without bones. It couldn’t be carved out of wood. I say it’s a dangerous Leaping Leopard Turtle.
Probably a fake of some kind but it is really strange looking. Would be neat if it was something real.
this is a very interesting cryptozoology animal new photo. that newspaper article about this animal is very interesting.
Jersey Devil strikes again.
I’ve read up a little on Little Doug, and apparently it is preserved using some older chemical methods, conveniently rendering the DNA untestable. It is very difficult to tell if the rear of the creature is a flipper of some sort or if it is just partially covered/in an awkward position.
The “hand,” however, is a bit of a nail in the coffin. Aquatic or not, this is not a primate and the rather articulated digits (not to mention the “thumb”) raise more questions than anything. This could be a “mermaid” a la PT Barnum, but a biologist’s review of the specimen should be able to reveal at least if it is a real creature, carving, or stitched-together carcasses.
Horse foetus plus bits.
i still cannot get the article to show to me full size. Would love to know the ‘background story’ on this
I would also love to see any other photos of it as the angle is somewhat limiting.
ALF with teeth, what a thought.
One Eyed Cat,
I have corrected the problem so you can access the full-size version of the article.
That picture of the unknown creature does resemble alittle bit like the CADBORASAURUS. Similar like but odd looking creature. This is a tough one to call. If that creature turns out to be real there must be more out there in the ocean.
One Eyed Cat, you’re right …it’s Alf! I’m really sad now, I liked him a lot. (and he DID have teeth too!)
Yes I can get the article now, thank you
Ah yes ALF did have teeth, not so obvious, but he had a taste for cats as I remember.
I thougth of Caddy also, but the photo’s angle makess it hard to really pin any thought on it’s ID down
Mysteriousness pretty much nailed it….its interesting, but its a gaff, perhaps even a 60 year-old gaff, but a gaff nathless.
Don’t be sad. He’s not ALF. ALF just had 4 teeth. This one is just another member of the species.
Nope! It has a fish tail! It’s a mer–alf!
Why can never these things look like Daryl Hannah?
Looks like a Jersey Devil knock-off to me. The wispy hair on its head is a rather nice touch. I don’t buy it.
OK, the article basically says it’s a gaff. Presented by an artist, idea sparked off by 19th century mermaid exhibits (I.e., gaffs). Pretty straightforward to me.
On a separate note, looks like ol’ J. D.’s getting no respect these days. I tell you, something’s out here in the Jersey Pine Barrens, although I doubt it looks like a desicated, aquatic Melmacian (even if the Jersey Devil has been noted for gnawing on the occasional pet from time to time).
Won’t write off the J.D. on this one…would like someone to examine the critter carcass to make sure it’s not fabricated, then we can talk about what it may or may not be…definitely has 5 fingers on the hand and does look like a tail from the photo at least,and teeth are pointy like a carnivore so no horse…unless it was one of those pre-pliestocene cave man eating horses that I have not read about…
Maybe it’s a horse fetus and some human arms juxtaposed. Stuff pulled out of a peat bog perhaps.
Wayne
think it looks more like a description of the dover demon no.
one eyed cat, it can’t be alf–I’m right here (my initials). It does have a striking resemblance to the jersey devil. I will admit that the hand really gets to me too. and not only does it have teeth, but what canines! I’d hate to have that bite me. That hand really gets to me. Looks like it comes from the other side of the body. I know that most animals, including hooved ones, have 5 digits within the leg, but this one actually has a hand. his face almost could be kangaroo or something. very weird
You do know that Alf’s real name was Gordon SHUMWAY, right? There’s a weird synchronicity for you…
If it’s real (which I don’t believe) there will be BONES inside. A simple X-ray could lay the whole thing to rest.
Either a fake, or an MRI or x-ray would be very revealing.
Oh, there really was a carnivorous, clawed, horse-like animal in South America at some time in the past (post-Chixulub and pre-human)
Not the Jersey Devil, but a Kelpie… (you know, the other weird horse-demon/faery, and a water loving one at that.)
I’m thinking fake.