Mystery of the Monk Fish

While there is actually a species of Fish known as the monkfish, this one that makes this story, is named such because it was said to have physically resembled an actual Monk. The story was reported in the early 1500’s by fishermen who claimed to have seen the creature and described it as follows: It supposedly had a horrendous head with two long fins that were almost as long as arms. It had a feature on the top of its head that resembled the monk’s tonsure, and even allegedly had a scaly protuberance that matched the proportions of a human nose.

Further, the creature had a skirt like apparatus that circled its upper body, resembling a monk’s cloak. It had wide set and forward facing eyes like a human and furthermore, it supposedly had a mouth full of sharp teeth, which led to speculation it was from the shark family.

Later zoologists however, reasoned that it might have come from the squid family, but that did not address the facial protuberance of the forward set eyes. His guesses were later tossed, because it was assumed that a fisherman with years of experience at sea, had likely seen squid in all manner of life and decomposition and wouldn’t have described the top of a monk’s head.

While in all likelihood, this was a seafarer’s story that had been embellished over the years, but it recalls why sea life is so fascinating to us. It is so unusual and foreign looking that it inspires a sense of mystery. Visitors to London can tap into that sense of mystery by visiting “Sea Life”, an astounding and dazzling aquarium that focuses on fish and animals from under the sea. They have over 500 species and 14 themed zones, and it’s the perfect place to take the kids to give them a break from the stodgy Art and Architecture tours. It’s one of those places that people might miss if they take in London too fast. It’s much better to secure one of the holiday apartments in London so they can see the city at their own leisure. Those that rent holiday apartment London are often amazed at all the things they would have missed had they relied on the package tours to show them around.