Tasmanian Globster

March 9, 1962 issue of The Mercury covering the Tasmanian Globster.

The Tasmanian Globster was a large unidentified carcass that washed ashore in western Tasmania, in August 1960.

Etymology

The term globster was coined in 1962 by Ivan T. Sanderson to describe this carcass and the name Sea Santa coined by another journalist in the same year.

Description

The Tasmanian Globster measured 20 ft (6.1 m) by 18 ft (5.5 m) and was estimated to weigh between 5 and 10 tons. The mass lacked eyes and in place of a mouth, had "soft, tusk-like protuberances". It had a spine, six soft, fleshy 'arms' and stiff, white bristles covering its body.

Sightings

In 1970, a second Tasmanian globster washed up. It was discovered a few miles south of Sandy Cape by the same Ben Fenton who was connected with the 1960 find. Fenton said that it was 8 feet long and was humped. It is unknown what happened to this carcass.

Theories about origin and existence

Although no samples of the mass were taken, recent analysis of other globsters suggests that the Tasmanian Globster was a large mass of adipose tissue from a whale.

See also

• Trunko

References

• Ellis, R. 1994. Monsters of the Sea. Robert Hale, London.
• Pinkney, J. 2003. Great Australian Mysteries. Five Mile Press, Australia.