Could Mosasaurs be breeding off the coast of New Zealand?
Aug 19, 2012 | Tony Lucas
There have been many encounters with unknown creatures off the coast of
New Zealand, with the East coast being particularly favoured.
There is a very good reason for this, running parallel to New Zealand's
coastline is the Hikurangi Trench. A deep gouge on the ocean floor, that
descends in places to depths of 3,750 metres (12,300 ft).[ (Lewis, Collott, & Lallemand, 1998, pp. 441-468.)
New Zealands unique oceanography
These deep troughs bring a wealth of nutrient rich organisms to the
surface allowing for a mass of biodiversity to flourish in the nutrient
rich upper waters.
Krill are profuse here along with smaller fish species which create a
nutrient rich environment for larger predatory animals such as Giant
Squid, which in turn are preyed upon by Sperm Whales. So there is no
deficit of vast food supplies for large predatory animals cruising the
depths of New Zealand's coastline.
Where the Hikurangi Trench joins up with the Tonga Trench, the area is
heavily spotted with areas of geothermal activity which provide warm
waters as well as a warm current which flows from the equatorial region.
This area of the Tonga Trench has a rich diversity of marine life
previously undiscovered until recent expeditions. This is a very harsh
environment where reshaping of the seafloor is happening continually, to
quote from the results of a joint project between the Universities of
Durham and Oxford, and funded by the National Research Centre.
"Where the Pacific plate collides with the
Indo-Australian plate, it is forced downwards into the trench, a
subduction zone, and the volcanoes are carried with it.
The trench, reaching a depth of 10.9km, forms the second deepest stretch
of seabed anywhere in the world - easily large enough to hold Mount
Everest"
What would make this an ideal nursery and breeding place?
The abundant food supply, warm, water and lack of large predatory
animals would make this an ideal breeding and nursery ground for
Mosasaurs. Migrating whales along these routes would also provide a
range of suitably sized animals for the young mosasaurs to feed on, and
just returning from the feeding grounds would make these whales
wholesome additions to their diet.
Personally, I think the primary reason that many of these creatures are
avoiding detection is the fact that they have learned to avoid the sound
of a ship's engine and stay well away from any encroaching vessel or
main shipping lane.
These out of the way areas often lead to shallow bays which are warmed
by the circum-tasmanian current which brings warm water to the Bay of
Plenty, which coincidently boarders the Kermedec trench. Warm water,
shallow bays and a deep nutrient rich feeding ground create ideal
nutrient rich conditions. Likewise a high percentage of creature
observations have been made in these very waters.
So what has been seen in these waters?
The earliest known reference to Mosasaur like creatures in New Zealand waters comes from a report dated August 1st 1899 from the Union Steam Ships Chief Officer of the Rotomahama, Lindsay Kerr.
He reported a huge Conger Eel, except it had two fins, one on each side
of the body. This colossus Rose up to a high of 30 feet out of the
water. This sighting occurred near the Portland Light situated between
Gisborne and Napier.
Right in the area of suitable Mosasaur habitat coincidently.
When shown pictures of various types of Eels, Mr Kerr said it had a more
crocodilian type head rather than anything he was shown.
In April 1971 the crew of the Kompira Maru saw a "Bug-Eyed
Monster" which resembled a large crocodile, but had fins instead of
Legs, which were clearly visible as it leaped and dived under the water.
1972 three women were whitebaiting at the mouth of the Orari River near
Temuka watched a huge creature wallowing in the breakers about 30 m away
from them.
They described a light grey lizard like beast that was around 15 m long,
which at one point opened its mouth to reveal numerous small sharp
teeth.
(SamYivano, 2007)
There is nothing to be said to make me think otherwise but personally, I
do believe these creatures are out there as there have been too many
sightings that are so closely reminiscent of mosasaurs as to be easily
dismissed.
There have been 11 reported sightings of Mosasaur like animals reported
in New Zealand waters, a higher number than anywhere else.
Are they a new species?
Perhaps.
I would more like to think of a Coelacanth scenario, an ancient species that has adapted to survive into the modern age.
We are still but children taking our first unsteady paddling steps into a
very wide and portentous ocean that holds many secrets and undisclosed
treasures we thought once lost.
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