Kabagon

{{Infobox
|name = Kabagon
|image = thumb|">thumb|
|map = 
|type = Oceanic Cryptid
|1st Sighting = Afternoon, April 28, 1974
|last sighting = Afternoon, April 28, 1974
|Country = New Zealand
|Specific Area = South Pacific Ocean
|Population = Unknown
|imagewidth = 250
|mapwidth = 292}}The Kabagon (カバゴン) is a cryptid first spotted by a Japanese fishing ship 28th Konpiramaru  Nihongo (第二十八金毘羅丸) in 1974 off Lyttleton, New Zealand.
Name
The name Kabagon literally means "hippo monster" in Japanese language. The naming was said to be "on impulse".
Descriptions
Most notable features of the creature are very large eyes and nostrils, and large head measuring 1.5 meters in height from under the nostrils to top of the head. Coloration is grayish. In general, the head of the creature somewhat resembles Umibōzu.

History
In the afternoon of April 28, 1974, 
On February 13, 1958, at about 7:00 PM, all members of 26 or 28 clues including captain Kimura of Japanese fishing vessel 28th Konpiramaru from Mekawa, Miyagi witnessed a large creature off Lytteleton Peninsula.<ref>[http://ifs.nog.cc/nsrex.hp.infoseek.co.jp/documents/antarctic 【南極に蠢く異形のもの達]</ref><ref>[http://chahoo.jp/kabagon/ ニュージーランド沖の謎の生物カバゴン]</ref><ref>[https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/blogtalent-yamaguchi/656/ 【８６】乗組員２６人が目撃！ 波間からのぞくギョロ目「カバゴン」]</ref> Only the 1.5 meters-tall head of the creature was observed, and the creature dived after watching the clues for a while. Captain Kimura sketched the animal (above).

Local magazine in New Zealand New Zealand Weekly Magazine later picked this sighting and mysterious footprints were reported on a beach nearby the sighting location.

Some consider that this animal may belong to the same species as the Large Antarctic Sea Mammal aka "Antarctic Godzilla".

Hypothesis
Kabagon was initially speculated as a misidentification of pinnipeds,<ref>[http://umafan.blog72.fc2.com/blog-entry-60 カバゴン]</ref> most likely walruses, however the latter was denied as the species only inhabits in Arctic waters of northern hemisphere. Some indicate that the creature is a remnant descendant of Desmostylidae.

However, the descriptions of the creature actually fit to several species of pinnipeds such as leopard seal and southern elephant seal. Especially, southern elephant seal, the largest of living pinnipeds reaching 5 to 6.5 meters in length, can be possible candidate of this record. Around the globe, there are many of similar cases including possible misidentifications of elephant seals such as Helena Manatee, Bunyip, Steller's Sea Cow sightings.

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References
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Category:Giants>Category:Giants
Category:Giant cryptid>Category:Giant cryptid
Category:Seals>Category:Seals
Category:Seal>Category:Seal
Category:New Zealand>Category:New Zealand
Category:Asian cryptids>Category:Asian cryptids
Category:Antarctica>Category:Antarctica
Category:Australia/Oceania>Category:Australia/Oceania
Category:Oceanic Cryptids>Category:Oceanic Cryptids
Category:Aquatic-based Cryptid>Category:Aquatic-based Cryptid
Category:Mammals>Category:Mammals

Category:Cryptids>Category:Cryptids
Category:Cryptid Wiki>Category:Cryptid Wiki
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Category:Sea Monsters>Category:Sea Monsters