Woodcut from Gesner's great zoological work, Historiae animalium, 16th century, depicting a sea creature sighted between Antibes & Nice in 1562. "The Rubus is a fish of the Greek sea & of the seas of Italy. They are round like a ring, & have many red spots & are full of sharp fins & spikes. He is a slow swimmer because he is so big. He goes to the ground, & waits there for prey, & whatever fish he gets he buries in the sand. It is very delicious fish to eat." Sea monsters are sea-dwelling mythical or legendary creatures, often believed to be of immense size. Marine monsters can take many forms, including sea dragons, sea serpents, or multi-armed beasts. They can be slimy or scaly and are often pictured threatening ships or spouting jets of water.