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Could large eels account for some sightings?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of What accounts for the sighting reports?·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: large but ordinary eels (around a metre) account for some reports of smaller animalsAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. Large but ordinary eels (around a metre) account for some reports of smaller animals. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

The eDNA survey made eels the leading biological candidate, and the question is now quantitative: how large can eels in the loch be, and how large are the things people report⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
Evidence: 1 against
Disputed
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. Foxon puts forward: large but ordinary eels (around a metre) account for some reports of smaller animals.
  2. Foxon: a 1 m eel in the loch has a probability of about 1 in 50,000, reasonable given the fish stock.For: Large but ordinary eels (around a metre) account for some reports of smaller animals.
  3. Foxon: the probability of an eel over 6 m is essentially zero.Against: Exceptionally large eels account for reports of large animals (several metres).
  4. Illumina puts forward: exceptionally large eels account for reports of large animals (several metres).
  5. Asked on this site
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