An academic has backtracked on his suggestion that the Loch Ness Monster could be a whale's penis.
A professor has backtracked on his theory about the Loch Ness Monster
Professor Michael Sweet had theorised on Twitter earlier this month that the mythical legend may actually be the todger of a whale and pointed out that many sea monster stories come from travellers witnessing things in the ocean.
The idea caught on but Sweet, from the University of Derby, has now clarified that Nessie is unlikely to be the private parts of a whale.
He told Live Science: "I used the image of Nessie just as an example of what people used to describe sea monsters looking like.
"There are no whales whatsoever in Loch Ness, so Nessie was a poor choice to use in this instance."
However, Sweet added: "The tweet still stands as factual.
"Many whales' penises (from various species) were surely mistaken by tired and half-starved sailors around the world."