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Did DNA Point to a Giant Eel?

The Loch Ness eDNA survey ruled out several monster ideas while leaving large eels as the most plausible animal lead.

On this page

  • What the Loch Ness survey sampled
  • Which monster theories lost support
  • Why eel DNA does not prove a giant eel
Preview for Did DNA Point to a Giant Eel?

Introduction

The Loch Ness environmental DNA (eDNA) survey became one of the most discussed scientific investigations in modern cryptozoology because it addressed a simple question: if a large unknown animal lives in the loch, should it leave genetic traces behind? The project’s results did not reveal evidence for a prehistoric reptile, giant catfish, sturgeon, shark, or any other commonly proposed “monster” candidate. Instead, researchers found eel DNA throughout the loch, leading to renewed interest in the idea that at least some Nessie sightings could involve unusually large eels.[University of Otago]otago.ac.nzfirst edna study of loch ness points to something fishyDNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…Loch Ness e DNA illustration 1 However, the findings are often misunderstood. The survey did not discover a giant eel, nor did it prove that Nessie is an eel. What it showed was that eels are abundant in Loch Ness and that the genetic evidence failed to support several alternative monster explanations. The giant eel hypothesis survived the test largely because the DNA data could not rule it out.[University of Otago]otago.ac.nzfirst edna study of loch ness points to something fishyDNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…

What the Loch Ness survey sampled

The Loch Ness Monster and eDNA: Why the Mystery is Still Unsolved

Channel: Omni Viewer

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Which monster theories lost support

The most important outcome of the survey was not the eel finding itself but the theories it weakened.

Neil Gemmell - Environmental DNA for Biodiversity, Biosecurity, Global Health and Monster Hunting

Channel: Genomics Aotearoa

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Why eel DNA attracted attention

Eels stood out because their DNA appeared widely across the loch. According to Gemmell, eel DNA was found at virtually every sampling location, indicating that European eels are common inhabitants of Loch Ness.[University of Otago]otago.ac.nzfirst edna study of loch ness points to something fishyDNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…

That result revived an older idea: perhaps some sightings involve unusually large specimens of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Eels can have long, dark, flexible bodies that may produce unusual silhouettes at the water surface. Under poor viewing conditions, an eel or group of eels could potentially appear larger or stranger than it really is.[Illumina]illumina.comloch ness ednaIf there is a monster in Loch Ness, this geneticist will find itJan 10, 2025 — Eels were already known to be plentiful in the loc…

The attraction of the eel hypothesis is that it relies on an animal already known to inhabit the loch rather than an undiscovered species. In terms of biological plausibility, it requires fewer assumptions than theories involving surviving prehistoric reptiles or unknown giant freshwater predators.[University of Otago]otago.ac.nzfirst edna study of loch ness points to something fishyDNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…

This is why the survey’s public presentation frequently highlighted eels. They represented the one commonly discussed candidate that the DNA evidence could not eliminate.[The Guardian]theguardian.comloch ness monster could be a giant eel say scientistsThe GuardianLoch Ness monster could be a giant eel, say scientists5 Sept 2019 — Loch Ness monster could be a giant eel, say scientists ·…Loch Ness e DNA illustration 2

Why eel DNA does not prove a giant eel

The crucial limitation is that environmental DNA reveals presence, not body size. DNA fragments shed into water cannot determine whether they came from many ordinary eels or a few exceptionally large ones. The survey established that eels exist in Loch Ness; it did not establish how large they are.[University of Otago+2Popular Science]otago.ac.nzfirst edna study of loch ness points to something fishyDNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…

Gemmell himself emphasised this distinction. The quantity of eel DNA suggested eels were abundant, but the data could not reveal whether any individuals reached extraordinary dimensions.[University of Otago]otago.ac.nzfirst edna study of loch ness points to something fishyDNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…

This point is often lost in popular retellings. Headlines sometimes implied that scientists had found evidence for a giant eel. In reality, the survey merely left that possibility open while ruling out several competing ideas.[The Guardian]theguardian.comloch ness monster could be a giant eel say scientistsThe GuardianLoch Ness monster could be a giant eel, say scientists5 Sept 2019 — Loch Ness monster could be a giant eel, say scientists ·…

Another challenge is biological scaling. Even if unusually large eels occur occasionally, many famous Nessie reports describe creatures considerably larger than known European eels. The eDNA data alone cannot bridge that gap.[Phys.org]phys.org2023 07 unraveling loch ness monster eelUnraveling the Loch Ness Monster's eel connection24 Jul 2023 — The study found that giant eels could not account for sightings of larger…Loch Ness e DNA illustration 3

How later research assessed the giant eel idea

DNA Sequencing Exposed Loch Ness’ Secret — Nessie Was Never What We Thought

Channel: Galaxy Vault

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What the Loch Ness case means for future monster searches

The Loch Ness investigation demonstrated how eDNA can reshape cryptozoological debates. Rather than directly identifying a legendary creature, the technique narrows the field of possibilities by comparing claims against the biological record of a habitat.[Science Focus]sciencefocus.comloch ness monster how edna helps us discover what lurks beneathScience FocusLoch Ness Monster: how eDNA helps us discover what…Sep 5, 2019 — Unfortunatley for Nessie-hunters and conspiracy theorist…

In the Loch Ness case, the method did not discover a monster. Instead, it removed support for several prominent monster candidates while leaving a mundane but testable explanation standing: the possibility that ordinary eels, perhaps occasionally large ones, contribute to some sightings.[University of Otago]otago.ac.nzfirst edna study of loch ness points to something fishyDNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…

That outcome is significant because it illustrates both the power and the limits of environmental DNA. eDNA can reveal what is present in a lake with remarkable sensitivity, but it cannot determine the exact size, appearance, or behaviour of every organism that leaves genetic traces behind. For Loch Ness, the technology made the giant eel theory more visible not because it proved it, but because it ruled out several alternatives more decisively.[Popular Science+2Loch Ness Project]popsci.comPopular ScienceNew DNA evidence may prove what the Loch Ness…Sep 9, 2019 — Plenty of eel DNA doesn't confirm that Nessie is a giant ee…

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Endnotes

1. Source: illumina.com
Title: loch ness edna
Link:https://www.illumina.com/content/illumina-marketing/amr/en_US/company/news-center/feature-articles/loch-ness-edna.html

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>If there is a monster in Loch Ness, this geneticist will find itJan 10, 2025 — Eels were already known to be plentiful in the loc…</p>

2. Source: emea.illumina.com
Title: loch ness edna
Link:https://emea.illumina.com/company/news-center/feature-articles/loch-ness-edna.html

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>there is a monster in Loch Ness, this geneticist will find it10 Jan 2025 — Eels were already known to be plentiful in the loch; their DNA…</p>

3. Source: phys.org
Title: 2023 07 unraveling loch ness monster eel
Link:https://phys.org/news/2023-07-unraveling-loch-ness-monster-eel.html

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Unraveling the Loch Ness Monster's eel connection24 Jul 2023 — The study found that giant eels could not account for sightings of larger…</p>

4. Source: otago.ac.nz
Title: first edna study of loch ness points to something fishy
Link:https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/first-edna-study-of-loch-ness-points-to-something-fishy

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>DNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel. “There is a very significant amount of eel DNA. Eels are very…Re…</p>

5. Source: theguardian.com
Title: loch ness monster could be a giant eel say scientists
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/05/loch-ness-monster-could-be-a-giant-eel-say-scientists

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>The GuardianLoch Ness monster could be a giant eel, say scientists5 Sept 2019 — Loch Ness monster could be a giant eel, say scientists ·…</p>

6. Source: popsci.com
Link:https://www.popsci.com/loch-ness-monster-dna-mystery/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Popular ScienceNew DNA evidence may prove what the Loch Ness…Sep 9, 2019 — Plenty of eel DNA doesn't confirm that Nessie is a giant ee…</p>

7. Source: otago.ac.nz
Title: otago scientist reveals loch ness monster could be a giant eel
Link:https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/otago-scientist-reveals-loch-ness-monster-could-be-a-giant-eel

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>University of OtagoOtago scientist reveals Loch Ness Monster could be…6 Sept 2019 — An Otago scientist has cast major doubt on the exi…</p>

8. Source: sciencefocus.com
Title: loch ness monster how edna helps us discover what lurks beneath
Link:https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/loch-ness-monster-how-edna-helps-us-discover-what-lurks-beneath

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Science FocusLoch Ness Monster: how eDNA helps us discover what…Sep 5, 2019 — Unfortunatley for Nessie-hunters and conspiracy theorist…</p>

9. Source: abc.net.au
Title: lochness monster
Link:https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-breakfast/lochness-monster/11491260

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>New DNA evidence suggests the Loch Ness Monster is an…8 Sept 2019 — Dr Neil Gemmell and his team did not find any reptilian DNA, so th…</p>

10. Source: lochnessproject.org
Link:https://www.lochnessproject.org/FIELDWORKGROUNDTRUTH/eDNA%20LOCH%20NESS/eDNA%20LOCHNESS_index.html

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>eDNA IndexIt has been suggested that rare individuals of the European eel might not return to the sea down the River Ness and grow huge…</p>

11. Source: smartwatermagazine.com
Title: could loch ness monster be a giant eel
Link:https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/university-otago/could-loch-ness-monster-be-a-giant-eel

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Could the Loch Ness monster be a giant eel?Sep 9, 2019 — The remaining theory that Professor Gemmell cannot refute based on the environme…</p>

12. Source: sciencefocus.com
Title: loch ness monster dna study reveals plausible explanation for sightings
Link:https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/loch-ness-monster-dna-study-reveals-plausible-explanation-for-sightings

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Science FocusLoch Ness Monster DNA study reveals 'plausible'…5 Sept 2019 — The only possibility not ruled out by the research was that…</p>

13. Source: xbio.jmir.org
Link:https://xbio.jmir.org/2023/1/e49063

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>x BioThe Loch Ness Monster: If It's Real, Could It Be an Eel?by F Foxon · 2023 · Cited by 6 — The findings of this study suggest that…</p>

14. Source: Wikipedia
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>LochLoch is a word meaning "lake" or "sea inlet" in Scottish and Irish Gaelic, subsequently borrowed into English. In Irish contexts…</p>

15. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Loch Ness
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Loch NessLoch Ness is one of the largest in Scotland, and the whole of Great Britain. It has the greatest volume, and is the second-de…</p>

16. Source: merriam-webster.com
Link:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loch

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Definition & MeaningJun 12, 2026 — The meaning of LOCH is lake…</p>

17. Source: dictionary.cambridge.org
Link:https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/loch

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>English meaning - Cambridge DictionaryLOCH definition: 1. in Scotland, a lake or inlet of the sea or ocean: 2. in Scotland, a lake or i…</p>

18. Source: youtube.com
Title: Neil Gemmell
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4y62Pa4b28

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Environmental DNA for Biodiversity…Neil Gemmell will be talking about Environmental DNA for biodiversity, biosecurity, global health a…</p>

Additional References

19. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/470765477828717/posts/1522055439366377/

20. Source: forthriverstrust.org
Link:https://forthriverstrust.org/rivers-wildlife/learn/habitats/lochs/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>LochsScotland has more than 30,000 fresh water lochs, ranging from small lochans to the likes of Loch Lomond or Loch Leven. The condition…</p>

21. Source: reddit.com
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/Cryptozoology/comments/10wgmm3/why_the_loch_ness_monster_is_most_likely_fake/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Why the Loch Ness Monster is most likely fakeEDNA is a scientific scan where scientists can gather all of the DNA of animals from a local…</p>

22. Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342296365_ESSAY_REVIEW_Disappointing_documentary_about_Loch_Ness_Monsters_Nessies_Can_good_documentaries_be_made_about_such_subjects

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>ESSAY REVIEW Disappointing “documentary” about Loch…10 Jun 2026 — Neil Gemmell uses cutting-edge environmental DNA science to unravel…</p>

23. Source: facebook.com
Title: in june 2018 an international team of researchers set out on a mission to dna te
Link:https://www.facebook.com/CryptozoologyFacts/posts/in-june-2018-an-international-team-of-researchers-set-out-on-a-mission-to-dna-te/1539267774876059/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Cryptozoology FactsDNA Survey (2018) A groundbreaking environmental DNA (eDNA) survey in 2018 analyzed water samples from Loch Ness to ca…</p>
Published: june 2018

24. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MiiwSuhk8k

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>DNA Evidence Reveals The Loch Ness Monster Could Be A…Scientists use environmental DNA evidence to explore where the Loch Ness Monster…</p>

25. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EraB4J49aRg

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>DNA Sequencing Exposed Loch Ness' Secret — Nessie Was…Loch Ness was supposed to be solved a hundred different times. Submarines scanne…</p>

26. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6HWdcjf-P8

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>The Loch Ness Monster and eDNA: Why the Mystery is Still…You may have seen lots of people pushing the "Nessie Eel" narrative, but is t…</p>

27. Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390620130_The_Loch_Ness_Monster_If_It%27s_Real_Could_It_Be_an_Eel

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Ness can be explained in part by observations of large specimens of European eel (…Read more…</p>

28. Source: inquisitivemystic.com
Link:https://www.inquisitivemystic.com/post/mythical-lake-dwellers-the-loch-ness-monster-sonar-and-environmental-dna

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Gemmell and his team took over 250 samples of water from Loch Ness at various locations and depths. They discovered DNA from about 3,000…</p>

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