THE AMERICAN LION PANTHERA LEO ATROX LIVED DURING THE PALEOZOIC HERE IN THE AMERICAS. IT IS CLOSE TO THE SAME LION REFERRED TO IN ASIA AND EUROPE AS THE CAVE LION. THE AMERICAN LION WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST IN SIZE OF THE BIG CATS AT 11.6 INCHES LONG AND 5 FOOT TALL / 3.5 X 1.7 METERS AND 700 TO 800 POUNDS. SEVERAL GOOD COMPLETE SPECIMINS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE LA BREA TAR PITS IN CALIFORNIA BUT FOSSILS HAVE BEEN FOUND FROM ALASKA TO FLORIDA AND IN SOUTH AMERICA AS WELL.
THE LIONS MANE JELLY FISH IS THE LARGEST KNOWN THAT CAN KILL A MAN WITH ITS STING. THE PORTUGESE MAN OF WAR AND THE SEA WASPS THOUGH MUCH SMALLER HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY MORE DEATHS. ITS KIND OF DIFFICULT NOT TO SEE A LIONS MAINE WHERE THE SEA WASP IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND THE MAN OF WAR PRETTY ENOUGH TO ATTRACT US.
THERE HAS BEEN THE BELIEF IN ANCIENT TIMES THAT ANYTHING THAT LIVES ON LAND HAS A COUNTERPART IN THE SEA. THIS LED TO THE IDEA OF THE HALF MAN OR WOMAN HALF FISH MERMAIDS, THE SERPENTS WITH WOLF OR LION HEADS THE ZODIAC FOR CAPRICORN BEING HALF GOAT HALF FISH. THIS WAS A HINDU BELIEF AND THE MAKARA IS NO DOUBT SUCH A CREATURE. THE WORD MAKARA MAY EVEN MEAN ONE HALF LAND AND ONE HALF SEA CREATURE IN HINDU.?
THE WIDE SPREAD BELIEF IN DRAGIONS ,GIANTS ,ECT. NO DOUBT HAD VARIOUS ORIGINS ALL HAVING TO DO WITH MANS ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE UNKNOWN USING IMAGINATION AND CONJECTURE. THOUGH OFTEN INCORRECT IT IS USUALLY ENTERTAINING
PICTURES 1. 1544 DRAWING OF SEA MONSTERS THE THEME OF HALF TERRESTRIAL AND HALF SEA CREATURE CAN BE SEEN IN SEVERAL DRAWINGS.
2. LIONS MANE JELLY FISH AND DIVER
3. AMERICAN CAVE LION
4. FOSSIL JAWS OF MEGALODON SHARK, HOPEFULLY EXTINCT.
5. OLD MAP DRAWING OF SEA SERPENT ATTACKING SHIP.