Con Rit, Vietnamese for millipede, is the name given to an unidentified species of marine creature living in the oceans off South East Asia which would seem to posses numerous fins along its sides. These creatures said to be capable of growing to enormous lengths, including a 135 foot specimen reportedly sighted near Algeria in Africa. These creatures are said to have armored segments running the length of their bodies with each segment having a pair of filament like structures. Some descriptions of the Con Rit give the creature a lobster like tail while others suggest a rounded armor plate with two filament like structures coming out of the bottom.

Initial research of the Con Rit was conducted by Dr. A. Krempf, director of the Oceanographic and Fisheries Service of Indo China, in the 1920’s. During his researcher Dr. Kremph interviewed an eyewitness who reportedly touched a beached Con Rit in 1883. This dead specimen of the armored sea serpent was found on a beach in Hongay, Along Bay, Vietnam by Tran Van Con, who claimed that the carcass was roughly 60 feet long, 3 feet wide and was covered with 2 foot long armored segments through out its entire length. Attached to each of these segments was a pair of filament like structures, each being a little over two feet in length. The top of the body was a dark brown color while the underside and neck were a light yellow. The head of the creature was missing and the carcass was later towed out to sea.

In 1899, the HMS Narcissus was traveling near Cape Falcon, Algeria, when several of the sailors aboard sighted what they called a sea monster. They estimated it to be roughly 135 feet in length and claimed that the creature possessed an immense number of fins, which they said propelled it through the water with enough speed to keep pace with the ship. They observed the creature for nearly 30 minutes before it sank below the surface and disappeared.

Cryptozoologist Bernard Heuvelmans theorized that the Con Rit may be a relic population of ancient armored whales and views the Con Rit as the source for ancient Oriental dragons. In his book Cryptozoology 5, Heuvelmans writes that this type of sea serpent is strangely provided with many lateral fins and with a segmented, jointed armor of boney dermal plaques which were common among archaic whales. However, this theory has been called into question in recent years as some researchers believe that such dermal plagues in association with whale fossils are thought to have come from other species. Thus, some believe that armored whales never existed at all.

A second theory which has been suggested to explain Con Rit sightings states that they may be nothing more than over exaggerated sightings of oarfish. Oarfish are long; almost snake looking, fish with fringe looking strands coming off their backs. They can reach lengths of over 20 feet and spend the majority of their lives searching for small crustaceans, like clams and mussels. Sightings of the oarfish are very rare, as they only come to the surface when sick or dieing, and could easily be mistaken for a sea serpent when viewed for the first time. Though these do not fit the descriptions of the Con Rit perfectly there are some similarities which warrant this theory.

A theory which was presented by cryptozoologist Karl Shuker suggests that the Con Rit could be a form of invertebrate, perhaps a giant isopod or and undiscovered form of aquatic chilopoda, the class which contains anthropods like centipedes and millipedes. Sightings of the Con Rit are almost nonexistent in modern times, which some suggest is the result of the Con Rit dieing out early in the 1900’s. Others suggest the disappearance of Con Rit sightings was caused by the discovery of the oarfish, now people knew that what they were seeing was not a strange sea serpent but a rarely seen deep sea fish.

The Evidence

There is currently no physical evidence to support the existence of the Con Rit living in the Oceans around Asia.

The Sightings

In 1883, a dead specimen of this armored sea serpent was found on a beach in Hongay, Along Bay, Vietnam by Tran Van Con, who claimed that the carcass was roughly 60 feet long, 3 feet wide and was covered with 2 foot long armored segments through out its entire length.

In 1899, the HMS Narcissus was traveling near Cape Falcon, Algeria, when several of the sailors aboard sighted what they called a sea monster.

The Stats– (Where applicable)

• Classification: Sea Monster
• Size: Up to 135 feet in length
• Weight: Unknown
• Diet: Unknown
• Location: Oceans around Asia
• Movement: Multi fin propulsion
• Environment: Ocean