What was on the news that was an animal that they can't identify?

Question

Find a picture of it, and tell me what you think it is!

Answer 1

It can be identified, rather easily.  It's a bloated, partially decomposed raccoon.  The "hooked beak" is the exposed premaxillary bone.  Look at a good picture and you can see the empty tooth sockets in the upper jaw.  The news coverage of this has been an absolute circus.  I saw it on CNN where they were showing the first photo of it to people on the street.  As if Joe Clueless could identify it.  Mysteriously, the reporters failed to consult a zoologist.

It's a Raccoon and you can go here for an excellent break down of the identifying markers and a comparison of the carcass to a raccoon.  You can also see a second photo taken of the animal that makes its true identity a lot more obvious.

http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/...

Answer 2

I saw that picture. The thing that washed up on the beach. If it's real, it's scary as a m**o. It's most like an elaborate hoax, as these sort of things usually are. Speculation will amount to nothing more than a bunch of wild ideas and such. I'm really curious to hear what the scientists will come up with though.

For anyone that wants to see it, just search for "Montauk Monster".

Answer 3

I really have no idea what it is. The front paws remind me of a raccoon, but I don't know...

http://hamptons.plumtv.com/blog/whats_go...

"Four government biologists contacted by Plum were unable to identify the species of the animal from its photo and came to the conclusion that "no such creature exists," putting forth the possibility that the photo may have been doctored. But a graphics specialist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services calls the photo—if it were doctored—a "really good Photoshop job."

http://gawker.com/5030531/dead-monster-w...

I like all the comments on what people think it is. Apparently this is the "site that broke the story" (groundreport.com) It also seems to be keeping up-to-date on the story.