Free Republic

According to scientists, a creature similar to H.P. Lovecraft's fictional and monstrous sea beast, Cthulhu, did exist at one point — the only difference is it was about 3 cm wide. In a computer-generated model created from a 430 million-year-old fossil, scientists say they've identified a never-before-seen species of sea cucumber which they aptly dubbed, Sollasina cthulhu, after the iconic monster monster feature in H.P. Lovecraft's 'Call of Cthulhu'.

A rare deep-sea creature dubbed the 'headless chicken monster' has been filmed for the first time by Australian researchers. The elusive Enypniastes eximia sea cucumber, which is usually only found in the Gulf of Mexico, was spotted in the Southern Ocean in the East Antarctic using camera technology developed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). 'Some of the footage we are getting back from the cameras is breathtaking, including species we have never seen in this part of the world,' AAD Program leader Dr Dirk Welsford said.

Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium is showcasing a bizarre apple-shaped sea cucumber from Australia in a new toxic display. The sea apple is a type of sea cucumber which is also related to urchins and starfish. It gets its name from its apple-shaped appearance and is brightly coloured to alert would-be predators to its deadly toxins. Blue Reef curator Matt Slater said: “It’s the first time we have been able to put sea apples on display and they really are extremely unusual creatures. “We’ve had to keep them in their own display away from the other fish as they are extremely...