The Tarponosaurus: ‘Tarpie’ is Her Name

The Tarponosaurus (nicknamed 'Tarpie' by locals) is a species of modern day dinosaurs related to the weird Therizinosaurus, which lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Growing up to ten to thirty feet in length and towering over any human, this modern dinosaur is one of the biggest in the world. In appearance, this creature has some Therizinosauridae-like features such as huge, powerful arms with large claw fingers and an alligator-like head. Males have waterproof feathers on their bodies while females have only smooth/scaly reptilian skin. They're amphibious and their main locomotion is being bipedal on land. The Tarponosaurus, though omnivorous, will eat from aquatic plants to large alligators but, they're capable of eating humans. Mainly found in Lake Tarpon (hence the name) in Tarpon Springs, Florida; these creatures are known to migrate if food supplies vary. The Tarponosaurus are known to live in underwater cave systems that are reported underneath the lake where the creatures socialize, sleep, and mate.

The first official Tarponosaurus sighting was a female of the species which are featherless unlike the males (featured above). Females mainly make up more of the sightings then males.