I live on the same latitude but the opposite side of the Florida. We have many manatees here in Charlotte Harbor and adjoining areas. They are frequently seen from the dock on the canal I live on. One of my family’s favorite activities in colder winter weather (70’s low 80’s) is to visit Crystal River 50 miles to the north and legally swim with the manatees that huddle there in the crystal clear spring fed waters. Visitors wanting to swim with the manatees there are required to attend an hour long briefing by Florida Fish and Game where strict procedures and protocols are described along with vary scary explanations of what might happen to individuals who violate the rules. In any case over the 15 years we have lived here we have witnessed hundreds of manatees and actually snorkeled or scuba dived for sustained periods within 10 inches of these slow, lumbering, and tolerant animals. Not one time have I ever seen a manatee that resembles the creature depicted in Gene Sowerwine’s videos? The video subject’s estimated size of fifteen feet (sonar analysis of unsighted specimen) is well outside the normal maximum length associated for the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). A manatee of 12 feet is extremely uncommon in Florida; in fact, I’ve never heard of even one attaining a length of ten feet. More conclusively though; the movements of the video’s subject creature is totally unlike those of a manatee. The quick sinuous movements depicted in the video are quite dramatic; and this is, to me, more convincing than even the unique un-manatee-like appearance. There exist videos that were never shown to the Monsterquest people; (because of Sowerwine’s justified suspicions regarding the MQ producers less than noble intentions). One of these videos clearly depicts a creature resting on the waters surface which looks very much like a crocodilian, specifically an American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), which by the way, is endemic to the region and successfully reproducing in ever growing numbers. Yet the video subject here is clearly not a crocodilian, as there are no visible scutes, but rather a smooth skin surface. All crocodilians have obvious and characteristically large scutes. (Scutes are the enlarged armor like pointed plates appearing on the dorsal surfaces, feet, and tail. Undoubtedly Sowerwine knows what an alligator or crocodile looks like. He is a long time Florida resident and lifelong fisherman. To suggest that he doesn’t know what a crocodilian looks like is ridiculous.

In reviewing the available material available that might support the sighting of a creature similarly described (except for size) I was referred to German submarine U28’s Captain George-Gunther Freiherr von Forstner log entry describing a creature of similar physical characteristics apparently injured by an underwater explosion subsequent to the sinking of HMS Iberian.

While I could find no audio reading or log entry of the specific incident; the writings of Von Forstner clearly impress as to the unlikelihood of even slight exaggeration save gross fabrication. So this log entry must by itself suggest more than strongly for the existence of a similarly featured creature; unknown, uncommon or rare and certainly unclassified. As for the supposed numbers of such creatures we would be foolish to conclude that their numbers are few or great.

Always interesting is the clamorous attempts made by the government agencies involved to authoritatively attempt to squash all possible controversies regarding unclassified wildlife. To show a mutilated manatee tail paddle and claim it is of the same creature videoed by Sowerwine ids silly. The difference is obvious.

Heuvelmans catalogued one that happened during World War I in the North Atlantic (Heuvelmans, In the Wake of Sea Serpents–ppg. 395-396) where upon (and I’m paraphrasing here) a British Steamer was sunk and in an explosion tossed an animal into the air: crocodile in shape, sixty feet long, four limbs with webbed feet and a long tail.

Heuvelmans listed 4 sightings of crocodile shaped critters in an ocean setting.

Granted, I think the likeliehood of a tylo/mososaur on the loose is pretty improbable, but it would be cool to see…as long as I wasn’t in the boat it was coming after…

Scary looking critter—regardless of whether it is still around or not.

I have no problem imagining this as one of the reasons Plesiosaurs reduced in population.
Would not want to meet one in a “dark alley.”