In the Caspian Sea, it is said there lives a hideous, ferocious mer-creature known as the Runan-Shah.
Locals know it as “Casper”.
People like naming aquatic monsters after the body of water in which they’re found. Right, Nessie? Champ?
They claim the monster is huge, with “webbing between the fingers and toes on its short, stubby legs - very sensible for a semi-aquatic monster - and an enormous, almost frog-like mouth.
For easy feeding?
Maybe. No one really knows.
But creatures with mouths like that can be suction feeders. They rapidly expand their mouth and throat, creating low pressure that draws prey — and water — inside.
And since this big fella has been seen swimming with schools of fish, it’s tempting to say maybe that’s what it eats?
Like an anglerfish.
Or a huge, sea-going salamander.
Okay, but what does it look like?
Have you ever seen Mr Blobby?
Now imagine that, with white, scaly skin (sometimes rather romantically described as “moonlight” 💅) and “hair” that looks like seaweed, and you’re getting close.
If you want the boring statistics, here they are:
Reports generally place the Runan-Shah somewhere between 165 — 168 cm, with a strong, heavy build and a round, protruding stomach.
Like he’s a bit too fond of weekend beers with his buddies. 😏
Some claim a dolphin-like beak, others say a more aquiline nose, but either way, it seems to have big, round eyes, an upper jaw that protrudes over the lower jaw, and no chin.
I think I dated a guy like that once? 🤔
The Runan-shah reportedly screams a bit like a seal — deep and throaty.
Hang on, are we sure this isn’t my ex?
No, he’s never been to the Caspian Sea.
That I know of. 😏😈
The webbed hands and feet, the description of the jaw and eyes, the habit of swimming with fish (which allegedly “behave strangely” in the creature’s presence, whatever that means), the general shape and especially the sound all say “Seal!” to me.
And for some seals, it might be possible to mistake their spotted coats, or patches of moulting fur, for something more unusual.
And Caspian seals actually can have spots.
If a Caspian seal decided to wear some seaweed as a wig — not entirely unheard of — could that explain the Runan-Shah sightings?
Well… maybe.
It might, if the reports were coming from tourists, or people who weren’t familiar with the area.
But they aren’t.
Locals and sailors in the Caspian Sea have reported a bizarre monster that some allege has existed in the area for generations.
However, the first recorded sighting was in March of 2005 by the crew of the Baku.
Gafar Gasanof, the captain of the ship, said of the encounter, “That creature was swimming parallel course near the boat for a long time. At first we thought it was a big fish, but then we spotted hair on the head of the monster and its fins looked pretty strange...The front part of its body was equipped with arms!”
The Caspian Sea is landlocked, so locals to the area and sailors on that sea should be very familiar with what their native seal looks like.
Which makes mistaken identity a lot less likely.
But if not a seal… then what did they see?
Fun fact: in my third book, Blood in the Water, I put my own twist on this sea monster!
If you’ve read the book, I’d love to know what you thought of my version of the Runan-Shah!