Bizarre, Monstrous Half-Alligator Half-Fish Animal Spotted In Singapore (Pics)

<blockquote>A monstrous 'prehistoric' fish that looks like an alligator sparked a marine mystery after it was discovered washed up by a reservoir in Singapore. <br><br>The remains of the creature were discovered on the banks of the MacRitchie Reservoir, where locals struggled to identify it.<br><br>It was discovered by Karen Lythgoe, 31, a Scottish national now living in Asia, who said the bizarre creature looked prehistoric. <br><br>It turned out to be an alligator gar - a fish native to the southern US, 10,000 miles away, leaving authorities wondered how it had got there.<br><br>The species produces toxic eggs and is an apex predator and releasing invasive species into the wild without permission could have a disastrous impact on the ecosystems. <br><br><img class=img src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/19/17/39496452-9279211-image-a-15_1613754068984.jpg"></img><br><br>'There were with some people already looking at it from the boardwalk, but that was too far away to see what it was,' Ms Lythgoe said. <br><br>'We thought it was a crocodile from that position, but it didn't look quite right, so we went off the path to get a closer look. <br><br>'It wasn't a crocodile! It was like something you might see in a zooit looked prehistoric with its big jaws and teeth. <br><br>'I was shocked and intrigued at how it came to be in the reservoir.' <br><br>Imran Kassim, 27, thought it was another predatory reptile. He said: 'Honestly, it flat out looked like an alligator, especially because a portion of its body was goneprobably eaten by a happy monitor lizard. <br><br>'It was pretty damn strange, but it looked enough like a lizard with its jaws wide open, that I would have never guessed it was a fish.' <br><br><img class=img src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/19/17/39496446-9279211-image-a-16_1613754070012.jpg"></img><br><br><img class=img src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/19/17/39496442-9279211-image-a-24_1613754499859.jpg"></img><br><br>In a joint statement, the city's water agency and National Parks Board said the creature was an alligator gar. <br><br>The species has been called a 'living fossil' because so much of its biology can be traced back to its earliest ancestors. <br><br>As for how the creature ended up in Singapore, authorities could only assume it was kept as a pet and released once it had grown too large. <br><br>According to local media, juvenile alligator gar can can be purchased from local fish merchants when they are just eight inches long (20cm). <br><br>The authorities added: 'We would like to remind everyone that the release of these animals will disrupt our delicate aquatic ecosystem and may also pose a risk to users of our water bodies.'<br><br>Ms Lythgoe said: 'I'm shocked someone could be so irresponsible to release that into the wild. It's a top predator so it really affects the ecosystem.' <br><br>Releasing animals into reservoirs and waterways is punishable with a fine of up to SG$3,000 (1,600) under Singapore law. The Singapore water agency has now removed the carcass.</blockquote>Source: <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9279211/Bizarre-gator-like-fish-huge-jaws-spotted-Singapore.html">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9279211/Bizarre-gator-like-fish-huge-jaws-spotted-Singapore.html</a>
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