I really doubt it. I know there have been a lot of conspiracy theories about this (either a genetic mutation, or a biological weapon, or some other strange thing). But I don't believe any of them are true.

My guess is that this is probably a huge hoax, or just an animal that was decomposed beyond recognition. Scientists and zoologists have said that it's unidentifiable for various reasons (not a raccoon because of the size of the legs in proportion to the body, not a turtle because it has teeth, etc) so I don't believe it's a real creature.

I have to agree with William Wise, director of Stony Brook University's Living Marine Resources Institute when he guessed what the creature is. "A talented someone who got very creative with latex."

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