Sea Monsters
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- This article is about the BBC television program. For the legendary creatures, see Sea monster.
In this series, British wildlife presenter Nigel Marven is shown travelling to seven past seas in Earth's history and scuba diving there, in order of dangerousness with the most dangerous last. He travels in a white sail/motor boat roughly 100 feet (30 m) long named "The Ancient Mariner". His time-travelling device is not mentioned or shown. He uses a scuba set with a fullface mask so he can talk underwater to produce the commentary. He performs some dives using a strong shark cage, which is spherical to make it harder for large sea creatures to bite it. At the end of Episode 3, it is implied that Nigel is killed along with his crew by a pack of Tylosaurus while everyone is asleep.
Ordovician (ep.1), Triassic (ep.1), Devonian (ep.1, continued in ep.2), Eocene (ep.2), Pliocene (ep.2, continued in ep.3), Jurassic (ep.3), Cretaceous (ep.3).
Set where New York is today, on the east coast of Laurentia, the Ordovician sea is considered the seventh most dangerous. Hazards include; Megalograptus and Cameroceras. Ordovician period Earth's day is 20 hours long and the atmosphere contains 17% oxygen and much more carbon dioxide than now, requiring Nigel to wear a medical-looking backpack oxygen apparatus to breathe from sometimes. Nigel also dives in a chain mail shark suit for protection.
Species referenced
- Cameroceras, a giant orthocone, up to 11 meters (36 feet) long. It's shell is 10 meters.
- Megalograptus, a eurypterid. These are shown coming onto land to lay their eggs, like modern horseshoe crabs.
- A dead trilobite, Isotelus, is also shown. Nigel inserts a camera into its eye socket and uses it as bait to find a Cameroceras.
- A dead Astraspis is also shown. Nigel forked it to use it as bait to find a Megalograptus.
Set around modern day Switzerland and considered the sixth most dangerous. Hazards include; Nothosaurus and Cymbospondylus.
Species referenced
- Nothosaurus, shown swimming in the water.
- Tanystropheus, shown hunting for fish underwater. Nigel demonstrates that it is able to shed and regenerate its tail.
- Cymbospondylus, an early ichthyosaur, 10 meters (33 feet) long. Nigel uses an electric prod to deter it when it comes too close.
- Coelurosaurus, 3 meters (10 feet) long, seen on a beach. It resembles the Coelophysis seen in Walking With Dinosaurs as revealed on the program's website
- Peteinosaurus, notable for it's 60 cm wingspan. It is seen flying in the sky.
Set around Ohio and Montana, which were then on the equator. The Devonian's seas are considered to be the fifth most dangerous.
Species referenced
- Dunkleosteus, a predatory placoderm fish, up to 10 meters (33 feet) long. Nigel uses his spherical shark cage to view Dunkleosteus underwater.
- Bothriolepis, a placoderm fish, 30 to 150 cm long. Nigel catches one and uses it as bait for a Dunkleosteus. He makes a bet with his crew that the Dunkleosteus will still be able to bite through the placoderm if it is wrapped in chainmail - and wins.
- Stethacanthus, a shark, with an upgrowth on its back that earns it the nickname "the ironing-board shark".
Set around Giza near Cairo in Egypt, which was then mangrove swamp. This is the fourth most dangerous sea.
Species referenced
- Arsinoitherium, a big herbivorous mammal, seen both walking on land and swimming.
- Basilosaurus, a large carnivorous whale. Nigel attracts one by recording its sounds and then playing them back on a large speaker. When a Basilosaurus turns up, it attacks the speaker.
- Dorudon, a small whale seen swimming close to the mangrove swamp.
Set on the coast of southern Peru. This is the third most dangerous sea.
Species referenced
- Megalodon, a giant shark (the shark is labelled Megalodon due to continuing debate as to whether it should be classified as related to great white sharks, or in its own genus). Nigel first swims with young Megalodon, then fits a camera to the fin of an adult, allowing him to see a Megalodon's eye view of the shark attacking a whale.
- Odobenocetops [link], a whale, 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) long. The males have one long tusk sticking backwards out of their mouths. Nigel makes a model of one to demonstrate how a young Megalodon attacks like a great white.
- Set around England, which was then largely underwater. This is the second most dangerous sea.
Species referenced
- Liopleurodon, a giant pliosaur. Nigel views three of them eating a dead Leedsichthys. He also wears an apparatus that can emit putrescene, to deter Liopleurodon.
- Metriorhynchus, a crocodile adapted for sea, up to 3 meters (10 feet). It is seen attacking a weak Leedsichthys.
- Leedsichthys, a bony fish, up to 27 meters {nearly 90 feet) long, lived by filter feeding on plankton.
- Hybodus, a shark, up to 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches). It is seen attacking a weak Leedsichthys.
Set on a west-facing coast on the east edge of Kansas. This is the most dangerous sea, dubbed "Hell's Aquarium" by Nigel. Nigel does not intend to dive in this sea, considering Tylosaurus too dangerous. He instead uses a remote controlled sub with a camera, and cameras on the boat. However, when he sees an Archelon, he and two other men take an inflatable out to it, and he dives with it. On the way back, the inflatable is overturned by a group of Tylosaurus - Nigel and his two companions swim back to their boat as the Tylosaurus focus on attacking the inflatable.
Species referenced
- Hesperornis, a flightless sea bird with teeth, 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) long. Seen in a breeding colony.
- Halisaurus, a mosasaur. Up to 4 meters (13 feet) long. Not identified - seen close to the coast attacking Hesperornis. Revealed on the website.
- Tylosaurus, a 17 metre long giant mosasaur.
- Elasmosaurus, a long-necked plesiosaur, 15 meters (50 feet) long, had 74 neck vertebrae. Nigel sees a group of Elasmosaurus swimming alongside his boat.
- Archelon, a turtle, 4.5 meters (15 feet) long. Nigel first sees a dead Archelon that has been killed by mosasaurs, then dives with a living one.
- Xiphactinus, a large predatory fish.
- Pteranodon, a pterosaur. It flies alongside Nigel's boat - he throws it some fish.
- Tyrannosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur. Not identified - seen standing on land, roaring.
- Squalicorax, a shark, seen attacking Hesperornis.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/tv_radio/wwseamonsters/
Set around Giza near Cairo in Egypt, which was then mangrove swamp. This is the fourth most dangerous sea.
Species referenced
- Arsinoitherium, a big herbivorous mammal, seen both walking on land and swimming.
- Basilosaurus, a large carnivorous whale. Nigel attracts one by recording its sounds and then playing them back on a large speaker. When a Basilosaurus turns up, it attacks the speaker.
- Dorudon, a small whale seen swimming close to the mangrove swamp.
Set on the coast of southern Peru. This is the third most dangerous sea.
Species referenced
- Megalodon, a giant shark (the shark is labelled Megalodon due to continuing debate as to whether it should be classified as related to great white sharks, or in its own genus). Nigel first swims with young Megalodon, then fits a camera to the fin of an adult, allowing him to see a Megalodon's eye view of the shark attacking a whale.
- Odobenocetops [link], a whale, 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) long. The males have one long tusk sticking backwards out of their mouths. Nigel makes a model of one to demonstrate how a young Megalodon attacks like a great white.
- Set around England, which was then largely underwater. This is the second most dangerous sea.
Species referenced
- Liopleurodon, a giant pliosaur. Nigel views three of them eating a dead Leedsichthys. He also wears an apparatus that can emit putrescene, to deter Liopleurodon.
- Metriorhynchus, a crocodile adapted for sea, up to 3 meters (10 feet). It is seen attacking a weak Leedsichthys.
- Leedsichthys, a bony fish, up to 27 meters {nearly 90 feet) long, lived by filter feeding on plankton.
- Hybodus, a shark, up to 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches). It is seen attacking a weak Leedsichthys.
Set on a west-facing coast on the east edge of Kansas. This is the most dangerous sea, dubbed "Hell's Aquarium" by Nigel. Nigel does not intend to dive in this sea, considering Tylosaurus too dangerous. He instead uses a remote controlled sub with a camera, and cameras on the boat. However, when he sees an Archelon, he and two other men take an inflatable out to it, and he dives with it. On the way back, the inflatable is overturned by a group of Tylosaurus - Nigel and his two companions swim back to their boat as the Tylosaurus focus on attacking the inflatable.
Species referenced
- Hesperornis, a flightless sea bird with teeth, 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) long. Seen in a breeding colony.
- Halisaurus, a mosasaur. Up to 4 meters (13 feet) long. Not identified - seen close to the coast attacking Hesperornis. Revealed on the website.
- Tylosaurus, a 17 metre long giant mosasaur.
- Elasmosaurus, a long-necked plesiosaur, 15 meters (50 feet) long, had 74 neck vertebrae. Nigel sees a group of Elasmosaurus swimming alongside his boat.
- Archelon, a turtle, 4.5 meters (15 feet) long. Nigel first sees a dead Archelon that has been killed by mosasaurs, then dives with a living one.
- Xiphactinus, a large predatory fish.
- Pteranodon, a pterosaur. It flies alongside Nigel's boat - he throws it some fish.
- Tyrannosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur. Not identified - seen standing on land, roaring.
- Squalicorax, a shark, seen attacking Hesperornis.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/tv_radio/wwseamonsters/
- Set around England, which was then largely underwater. This is the second most dangerous sea.
- Liopleurodon, a giant pliosaur. Nigel views three of them eating a dead Leedsichthys. He also wears an apparatus that can emit putrescene, to deter Liopleurodon.
- Metriorhynchus, a crocodile adapted for sea, up to 3 meters (10 feet). It is seen attacking a weak Leedsichthys.
- Leedsichthys, a bony fish, up to 27 meters {nearly 90 feet) long, lived by filter feeding on plankton.
- Hybodus, a shark, up to 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches). It is seen attacking a weak Leedsichthys.
Set on a west-facing coast on the east edge of Kansas. This is the most dangerous sea, dubbed "Hell's Aquarium" by Nigel. Nigel does not intend to dive in this sea, considering Tylosaurus too dangerous. He instead uses a remote controlled sub with a camera, and cameras on the boat. However, when he sees an Archelon, he and two other men take an inflatable out to it, and he dives with it. On the way back, the inflatable is overturned by a group of Tylosaurus - Nigel and his two companions swim back to their boat as the Tylosaurus focus on attacking the inflatable.
Species referenced
- Hesperornis, a flightless sea bird with teeth, 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) long. Seen in a breeding colony.
- Halisaurus, a mosasaur. Up to 4 meters (13 feet) long. Not identified - seen close to the coast attacking Hesperornis. Revealed on the website.
- Tylosaurus, a 17 metre long giant mosasaur.
- Elasmosaurus, a long-necked plesiosaur, 15 meters (50 feet) long, had 74 neck vertebrae. Nigel sees a group of Elasmosaurus swimming alongside his boat.
- Archelon, a turtle, 4.5 meters (15 feet) long. Nigel first sees a dead Archelon that has been killed by mosasaurs, then dives with a living one.
- Xiphactinus, a large predatory fish.
- Pteranodon, a pterosaur. It flies alongside Nigel's boat - he throws it some fish.
- Tyrannosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur. Not identified - seen standing on land, roaring.
- Squalicorax, a shark, seen attacking Hesperornis.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/tv_radio/wwseamonsters/
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