'naga' Deep Sea Creature Washes Up In Dunedin New Zealand

[Coss]

 

A rarely seen Thai Naga washed up on the Aramoana Spit salt marsh near Dunedin in New Zealand.

 

It's three metres long, swims vertically and is known for spitting fireballs, portending propitious events and the ability to shorten its length by gnawing at its own tail - and it has washed up in a Dunedin salt marsh.

 

The University of Otago's New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and Aquarium posted photos of a rarely seen Thai Naga on its Facebook page on Thursday.

 

 

It was discovered on Aramoana Spit at the entrance of the Otago Harbour on Thursday morning.

 

Department of Conservation worker David Agnew was made aware of it by a local man on a morning walk.

 

According to the university marine experts, the fish was 3m long but the species was known to reach lengths more than 8m.

 

"Described as long-distance river drifters, common, though rarely seen in Asian rivers they are usually found hanging in vertical position in the upper 3m of the water column, most sightings have been reported in Thailand and Laos" the Facebook post said.

 

 

"Specimens larger than 1.5m are known to shorten their length by biting off their tail, this behaviour may be an adaptation to being resident in shallow rivers. Healthy Thai Naga are known to hide in rivers and are sometimes seen near the water surface - so may be the origin of some 'river dragon' myths."

 

Agnew said in his 20 years working and growing up in New Zealand he had never come across such a sea creature.

 

"It was really fresh, it had just washed up on the night tide and looking at it, it was a pretty weird looking creature.

 

"It didn't have scales like other fish, it had smooth skin, like tinfoil, and if you rubbed it the silver would come off."

 

Agnew understood university marine researchers and the museum were discussing preserving the fish for research.

 

A representative from the Wellington Thai Embassy, Mr Suthee Pradubwit confirmed that the creature did match the descriptions of Thai Naga that the Thai people have seen and further opined that New Zealand Scientists would be unlikely to be able to understand it.

 

Tee Hee

[cavanami]

Mine is bigger then yours...

 

[Mekong]

 

 

A representative from the Wellington Thai Embassy, Mr Suthee Pradubwit confirmed that the creature did match the descriptions of Thai Naga that the Thai people have seen and further opined that New Zealand Scientists would be unlikely to be able to understand it.

 

Tee Hee

 

Thainess is alive and well even in New Zealand

[Coss]

Tee Hee

[Mekong]

I don't think anyone has noticed

[YimSiam]

Ah, so the slippery thing's gone to New Zealand! Wondered where she'd got off to, haven't seen her in either vertical nor horizontal positions around the s7 Biergarten lately... Must be that young guy in the photo's taking care of her, good for her!

[unit731]

I don't recall seeing an aquarium at the German Beer Bar.

 

But much has changed since the old canvass roof was replaced with tin.

 

There certainly was enough water at the bar during the rainy season with the old canvass roof.

[My Penis is hungry]

Yes

I noticed, 555,