Souvenirs and children’s books often show Nessie as a snakelike beast with distinct humps breaking the water’s surface. But new research reveals that eyewitness accounts rarely match this popular depiction. Only 1.5% of reported sightings over the past century describe Nessie with humps or hoops, according to a study by Dr. Charles Paxton of the University of St Andrews and Adrian Shine of the Loch Ness Centre. They analyzed historical imagery, finding that while 25-32% of postcards portrayed Nessie with humps trailing behind its neck, this design is “biologically impossible.” Such a swimming method would be highly inefficient, making it unlikely for the creature to appear that way. Contrary to assumptions that witnesses are swayed by media portrayals, the study suggests most sightings stem from real, unexplained phenomena. “Scholars often assume that monsters are generated by cultural expectations, but it is always useful to test obvious hypotheses,” Dr. Paxton said. “In this case, it really seems witnesses do not generally report the impossible, even though the hooped monster is a common portrayal of Nessie.” Nessie’s legend dates back to the Middle Ages, but the first modern sighting occurred in 1933 when hotel manageress Aldie Mackay reported a “whale-like creature” churning in the loch. The Inverness Courier dubbed it a “monster,” sparking global fascination. Since then, over 1,000 sightings have been logged, including three in 2024 and two in 2025—one describing “two humps” and another a “long, thin creature.” Early theories suggested Nessie was a plesiosaur, an extinct aquatic dinosaur. However, skeptics argue the cold Loch Ness waters couldn’t sustain a cold-blooded reptile, and a warm-blooded one would need more food than the loch provides. Over the years, multiple searches—from sonar sweeps in the 1980s to DNA sampling in 2019—have found no evidence of large unknown creatures. Instead, researchers propose giant eels as a possible explanation. In 2023, the largest search in 50 years yielded mysterious “gloops” on acoustic equipment—until organizers realized the device wasn’t plugged in. The post Loch Ness Monster’s Famous Humps May Be a Myth appeared first on Anomalien.com.