(opens the full-size plate in a new tab) Chessie
Sea Serpent
Sightings track closely with manatee excursions recorded in the bay.
A serpentine marine anomaly of the Chesapeake Bay whose extreme reclusiveness is celebrated as an official symbol for regional environmental advocacy.
Etymology. Named 'Chessie' as a localized nod to the famous Scottish Loch Ness Monster.
Anatomy. It is a dark, finless, snake-like creature measuring 25 to 30 feet in length. It features a slender, football-shaped head resembling a horse, and biological flippers for steering. Biologists note that alleged sightings frequently lack undulating serpentine motion, instead matching the 'smooth footprint' left by marine mammals.
Ecology. Endemic to the estuarine ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. Biologists confirm Florida manatees occasionally migrate to these precise waters.
Behavior. It swims gracefully just below the surface, occasionally breaching its head and tail simultaneously. Highly evasive, it actively avoids close human interaction.
Mythology. Sightings peaked in the 1980s following a famous 1982 video recording by Robert and Karen Frew. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service embraced the monster in 1986, publishing educational coloring books featuring Chessie to promote ecological health and anti-pollution efforts.