# Does Loch Ness hold a large animal unknown to science? · Loch Ness > Four answers have been proposed. No large unknown animal lives in the loch; occasional large visitors (seals) and known species account for… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/loch-ness/questions/QST0CRFXA2W308J/does-loch-ness-hold-a-large-animal-unknown-to-science Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:53+00:00 --- **0** # Does Loch Ness hold a large animal unknown to science? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Answered: No large unknown animal lives in the loch; occasional large visitors (seals) and known species account for…** Passed its tests and review. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. No large unknown animal lives in the loch; occasional large visitors (seals) and known species account for… leads, with evidence 3 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters It is the claim that made the loch famous. It makes physical predictions (DNA, biomass, sonar) that have now been tested more thoroughly than for any other lake monster⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX0T00STD/if-there-is-a-monster-in-loch-ness-this-geneticist-will-find)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX1HE49S7/operation-deepscan). ## Answers 4 [**No large unknown animal lives in the loch; occasional large visitors (seals) and known species account for…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/loch-ness/answers/ANS0CRFXB2452YA/no-large-unknown-animal-lives-in-the-loch-occasional-large) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for, 1 against Most likely [**A population of large reptiles, such as a surviving plesiosaur lineage, lives in the loch.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/loch-ness/answers/ANS0CRFXC9654S0/a-population-of-large-reptiles-such-as-a-surviving) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 3 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/loch-ness/answers/ANS0CRFXE7P7CBM/none-of-these) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed [**The loch holds exceptionally large eels, of a size not recorded elsewhere.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/loch-ness/answers/ANS0CRFXDG83N6C/the-loch-holds-exceptionally-large-eels-of-a-size-not) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 1975[Scott & Rines: scott and Rines named the animal Nessiteras rhombopteryx on the basis of underwater photographs.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX2GP3E5J/naming-the-loch-ness-monster)For: A population of large reptiles, such as a surviving plesiosaur lineage, lives in the loch. 1. 2022[Paxton puts forward: a population of large reptiles, such as a surviving plesiosaur lineage, lives in the loch.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX1S83P0N/the-loch-ness-monster-a-modern-history) 1. 2022[Paxton: about 20 per cent of reports mention a neck; under 1 per cent describe a reptilian or scaly animal.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX1S83P0N/the-loch-ness-monster-a-modern-history)Against: A population of large reptiles, such as a surviving plesiosaur lineage, lives in the loch. 1. 2023[Smith puts forward: no large unknown animal lives in the loch; occasional large visitors (seals) and known species account for…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX28W2FBQ/nessie-and-noctilucent-clouds) 1. 2023[Foxon: the chance of a 1 m eel in the loch is about 1 in 50,000; of one over 6 m, essentially zero.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX2124F3T/the-loch-ness-monster-if-its-real-could-it-be-an-eel)Against: The loch holds exceptionally large eels, of a size not recorded elsewhere. 1. 2025[Illumina puts forward: the loch holds exceptionally large eels, of a size not recorded elsewhere.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX0T00STD/if-there-is-a-monster-in-loch-ness-this-geneticist-will-find) 1. 2025[Illumina: the 2018 eDNA survey found no reptile DNA and identified all 13 known fish species.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX0T00STD/if-there-is-a-monster-in-loch-ness-this-geneticist-will-find)For: No large unknown animal lives in the loch; occasional large visitors (seals) and known species account for… 1. 2025[Illumina: no reptile DNA was found in about 250 samples.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX0T00STD/if-there-is-a-monster-in-loch-ness-this-geneticist-will-find)Against: A population of large reptiles, such as a surviving plesiosaur lineage, lives in the loch. 1. 2025[Illumina: eel DNA was found at every sampling site, and Gemmell could not rule out giant eels.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRFX0T00STD/if-there-is-a-monster-in-loch-ness-this-geneticist-will-find)For: The loch holds exceptionally large eels, of a size not recorded elsewhere. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/loch-ness/questions/QST0CRFXA2W308J/does-loch-ness-hold-a-large-animal-unknown-to-science%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/loch-ness/questions/QST0CRFXA2W308J/does-loch-ness-hold-a-large-animal-unknown-to-science%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/loch-ness/questions/QST0CRFXA2W308J/does-loch-ness-hold-a-large-animal-unknown-to-science%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/loch-ness/questions/QST0CRFXA2W308J/does-loch-ness-hold-a-large-animal-unknown-to-science%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/loch-ness/questions/QST0CRFXA2W308J/does-loch-ness-hold-a-large-animal-unknown-to-science%23add-source) Where it fits Loch Ness **Does Loch Ness hold a large animal unknown to science?** Key question · you're here [What were the unexplained deep sonar contacts?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/loch-ness/questions/QST0CRFXATA5QK8/what-were-the-unexplained-deep-sonar-contacts)Open · 4 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]