What, was "Rudy" on cable last night?

"We're back to water beasts this week," Jon began. "Ireland instead of Scotland. Specifically, the Dobhar-chú. It translates as 'water dog', and is also a modern word for otter, so this particular cryptid sometimes gets called 'King Otter'. It's not nearly so cuddly as that would imply, though." He brought up a drawing.

"Sometimes it's described as half dog, half fish, and sometimes as simply a very large otter, on the scale of three to five meters. One account claims it to be white with black ear tips and a black cross on its back. Another describes it as black and hairless. Although I suppose if it were otter-like, it could be a difference between it being wet and dry. There's a headstone in County Leitrim, supposedly of a woman killed by the creature, that shows...well, mostly a dog." He shrugged.

"The story says that the woman went down to the lake to do laundry, and her husband heard her scream. He showed up either as she was being killed or just after, and saw the monster lying asleep on top of her. Apparently some things can fall asleep any time. He killed it, and it called to its mate. After a long battle, he killed it, too.

"Apart from that, there have been a number of sightings over the years, as recently as the 2000s. Nothing much documented, though; it's all been passed on through word of mouth. There is another gravestone of another woman killed a few centuries earlier, and several accounts in Japanese books, oddly enough; some from Irish people reported there, and at least one from a Japanese expedition.

"Leading theories are large otters, misplaced sea lions, and leftover dinosaurs. Also, there's some question as to if there's been some influence or confusion with legends of kelpies, though they're more typically horse-like than dog-like. Or otter-like."

Another shrug. "So as usual, let's discuss if you think they're real, and/or what they might be."