Yikes! Life, the Universe, and Everything made me forget to publish this post for the Underwater Panther yesterday!

This creature is like a giant cat, but might be covered in scales and has spikes running along its back and very-long tail.

(I have to admit that my mermaid was a little disappointed that this beast doesn’t have a long fish tail like hers.)

This creature is an important water creature in the mythologies of many Great Lakes and Northeastern Woodlands Native American tribes, particularly among the Anishinaabe peoples.

It’s called the Mishipeshu, which translates as “the Great Lynx” (not panther, interestingly). It is usually the most powerful of the mythological beasts and is always in opposition with the Thunderbirds (the most powerful creature of the air.)

Just don’t mistake the Underwater Panther for an alligator. Just sayin’.

Sources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_panther
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Underwater_panther_NMAI_GGH.jpg (public domain)