Cetaceans, sex and sea serpents: an analysis of the Egede accounts of a “most dreadful monster” seen off the coast of Greenland in 1734

Charles George Mackay Paxton, E Knatterudb, Sharon Louise Hedley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A re-evaluation of the ?most dreadful monster? originally described by the ?Apostle of Greenland? Hans Egede in 1741 suggests that the missionary's son Poul probably saw an unfamiliar cetacean. The species seen was likely to have been a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), a North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) or one of the last remaining Atlantic grey whales (Eschrichtius robustus) either without flukes or possibly a male in a state of arousal.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalArchives of Natural History
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2005

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cetaceans, sex and sea serpents: an analysis of the Egede accounts of a “most dreadful monster” seen off the coast of Greenland in 1734'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this