Mysterious Sea Creature Fools Greek Villagers
[Original headline: Mysterious marine organism puzzles villagers]

A dog's discovery of the dried remains of a mysterious creature in a village near Pylos in the southern Peloponnese spawned tales of devil fish (or angel fish), of alien visitors and of mythological Greek marine creatures over the past two days.

Scientists were said to be rushing off to examine the find, which was identical to the one for sale at left in a souvenir shop in Nafplion.

The mystery, however, appeared to have its roots in the tropics, where natives often sell the mummified remains of rays to tourists.

It could have been a male rhinobatos, or guitarfish, said Costas Papaconstantinou, head of the Institute for Marine Biological Resources.


• Story originally published by •
Kathimerini, Athens / Greece - February 21 2001

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