Case file · Cryptid
Zuiyō Maru 'plesiosaur' carcass
On 25 April 1977 the Japanese trawler Zuiyō Maru hauled up a large decomposed carcass east of Christchurch; photographs led to claims of a living plesiosaur.
1977 CE · -43.50, 173.50 · status: explained
The account
The crew photographed and sketched the remains and kept tissue samples before dumping the rotting body back into the sea. The story caused a sensation in Japan, where a commemorative stamp was issued.
The sceptical view
Japanese scientists concluded it was most likely a basking shark; amino-acid analysis of the tissue agreed. Decaying basking sharks lose their jaws and gills, leaving a 'long neck and small head' shape.