Do Water Monkeys Really Exist? Is Their Prototype the Otter?

Legend has it that there is a creature resembling an ape that lives in water. It is not only a strong swimmer but also very powerful, and it likes to drag people who fall into the water down to the bottom. It is commonly known among the people as the “water ghost.” So, do water monkeys really exist? Is their prototype the otter?

1. Do water monkeys really exist?

Water monkeys actually do not exist in this world.

1. In Chinese folk culture, the water monkey is commonly known as the “water ghost,” “water lion ghost,” “water corpse ghost,” “drowned corpse ghost,” and so on. It refers to people who died by suicide by drowning or by accident, who wait patiently in the water where they drowned, luring or forcing people to drown so they can serve as their own substitute victims, using this method to be reborn and escape their suffering in hell.

2. In legend, water monkeys are mostly seen in mountain ponds, reservoirs and other wild water sources. They are excellent swimmers, and sometimes they also come ashore to “get some air,” but within ten minutes of leaving the water their limbs become weak. In the water they are several times stronger than humans, and once a person is grabbed by one in the water, their life is in danger. Legend also says that water monkeys have enormous and mysterious power in the water, able to burrow through the bottom and travel between different ponds and rivers, grab people who fall in, drag them to the bottom, and smear mud over all seven openings of the victim's face, causing death by suffocation.

3. According to current species research records, no creature matching the water monkey species exists, so this is merely something people imagined, with the purpose of scaring children and keeping them away from dangerous waters such as lakes and ponds, just like how teachers repeatedly stress that students should not go swimming in rivers without permission, all for the safety of the children.

4. In Scotland, the water ghost is half horse and half bull in shape, with two sharp horns on its head. It often transforms into a beautiful white horse, and once someone mounts it, it gallops wildly until it throws the person into the water to drown; sometimes it also transforms into the appearance of a handsome young man, luring unsuspecting young women into a watery grave of their own making.

5. In Japan, the water ghost is the kappa, with a face like a tiger, a beak like a bird, a body covered in scales, and a turtle shell on its back. It looks like a child of four or five years old. It was originally a spirit of the water, worshipped by the people as a river god. There is also a saying that it is a messenger of the water god, formed from frost sent down by the water god.

2. Is the prototype of the water monkey the otter?

To date, the most discussed prototype of the water monkey is the otter. Even many scientists believe that the so-called water monkey is a relatively common creature, the otter. Why do they say this? There are mainly three reasons below.

Reason one, similar living environment: otters mainly inhabit areas along rivers and lakes, and especially like to live in stream and river areas with dense trees on both banks, while the water monkey is a creature that lives in wild water sources such as mountain ponds and reservoirs. Their living environments are very similar.

Reason two, somewhat similar appearance: the otter has another name, the water monkey. It has relatively long and dense body fur and flexible limbs, while the water monkey resembles an ape, and everyone knows that apes have thick body fur and flexible limbs. The two are still somewhat similar in appearance.

Reason three, both are good in the water: the otter is a very good swimmer, skilled at swimming and diving. When swimming near the surface, it is used to exposing its head, back and tail, so it is often mistaken by people for a water monster; as for the water monkey, needless to say, it is of course excellent in the water.

Summary: Water monkeys actually do not exist in this world. They are merely creatures people imagined, used to scare people. Many people believe that the prototype of the water monkey is the otter, not only because their living environments are similar and their appearances are somewhat similar, but also because both are good in the water. However, many people do not believe it, saying that otters are so cute, how could they be water ghosts?