Bakunawa Sea Monster: The Myth of the Moon-Eater
In pre-colonial Philippine history, the enduring legend of the Bakunawa sea monster tells of a colossal sea serpent that rises from the ocean depths to devour the moon. Described as an island-sized beast with glowing eyes and a mouth vast enough to consume the sky, the Bakunawa became the centerpiece of lunar eclipse folklore. Fearful of eternal darkness, ancient Filipinos would clash their pots and pans, hoping the noise would drive the creature away.
Could this legend be rooted in reality? Some theories suggest the Bakunawa may have been inspired by a prehistoric marine reptile. Recent research proposes that it was based on the Ekleipsiosaur—a hypothesized genus of giant, nocturnal marine reptiles that existed beyond the dinosaur era.
Ekleipsiosaur: A Scientific Hypothesis
Classification & Evolutionary Link
The Ekleipsiosaur (from Greek ekleipsis, meaning “eclipse,” and saur, meaning “lizard”) is theorized to be an omnivorous marine reptile that survived into the late Pleistocene Epoch. Unlike traditional plesiosaurs, which vanished with the dinosaurs, this species may have adapted to deep-sea environments, hibernating in icy waters and resurfacing as the Earth’s climate changed.
Fossils from the Southwestern Philippine Trench suggest a massive reptilian species with unique adaptations, bridging characteristics of modern sea turtles and prehistoric plesiosaurs. This could mean the Bakunawa sea monster may have had real-world origins, later misinterpreted as a mythical beast.
Bakunawa Sea Monster: The Lost Leviathan of the Philippine Seas
April 12, 2009
This was a submission for a Komikon 2009 Character Making Contest themed “Lamang Dagat”.
Anatomy & Physical Characteristics
Size & Appearance
- Estimated lengths range from 50 to 80 meters, positioning it among the largest known marine reptiles.
- Its broad, flat back often became home to corals, barnacles, and even small mangrove-like vegetation, creating an island-like illusion for passing travelers.
- Like sea turtles, its thick, gritty dorsal skin underwent continuous shedding, aiding in natural camouflage.
Head & Feeding Mechanism
- The Ekleipsiosaur’s elongated neck allowed it to raise its head above the ocean surface, resembling the Bakunawa sea monster’s “moon-eating” behavior.
- Its skull, resembling that of sea turtles, housed a powerful suction-based feeding system capable of ingesting plankton, fish, and small whales.
- This natural whirlpool effect could explain why fishermen often reported strange water disturbances or “waves pulling them toward the depths.”
Respiration & Unique Physiology
- The creature had a volcanic-like dorsal opening, an orifice that expelled waste and excess heat, resembling a natural hydrothermal vent.
- It is theorized that bioluminescent bacteria on its body contributed to ancient reports of a glowing serpent during lunar eclipses.
Behavior & Habitat
A Nocturnal Titan
The Ekleipsiosaur was entirely nocturnal, spending its days in the midnight zones of the ocean, surfacing only under the cover of night.
- This behavior reinforced its association with the moon and eclipses—it was rarely seen except during celestial events.
- Sailors described its deep, resonating call as akin to a fog horn, possibly a low-frequency mating call triggered by lunar activity.
A Solitary Giant
Historical accounts describe Bakunawa sea monster sightings as singular events, suggesting that Ekleipsiosaurs were territorial. Their rare interactions may have occurred only during mating seasons, coinciding with solar or lunar eclipses, further fueling the myth of the “moon-eater.”
Cultural & Historical Impact
The Bakunawa sea monster legend persisted as its narrative evolved with early civilizations, transitioning from oral history to enduring folklore. But what if it wasn’t merely a story?
- Misinterpretation of Mating Calls: The “moon-eating” legend may have originated from Ekleipsiosaurs raising their heads to the sky to call for mates.
- Fear of the Unknown: The tradition of clashing metal pots to “scare” the Bakunawa may have stemmed from observations that the creature had highly sensitive hearing and reacted to loud disturbances.
With its potential evolutionary ties to modern sea turtles, the disappearance of the Bakunawa sea monster could have resulted from oceanic changes, pollution, or human activity—a cautionary tale for marine conservation today.
Modern Theories: Could the Bakunawa Sea Monster Still Exist?
While scientists largely consider Ekleipsiosaurs extinct, some researchers argue that deep-sea anomalies hint at surviving populations.
- Unexplained sonar readings from the Philippine Trench have detected massive, unidentified moving objects.
- If an Ekleipsiosaur adapted to deep-sea environments, it could still be lurking in the ocean’s uncharted depths.
Could it be that the Bakunawa sea monster still waits for the next eclipse?
Attached Articles & Accounts
(These historical accounts provide additional perspectives on the mystery of the Ekleipsiosaur.)
Extract from the Journal of Dr. J. Bantigue, Marine Paleobiologist (University of the Philippines Diliman, 1998)
A researcher’s notes on a deep-sea anomaly linked to the Bakunawa legend.
“For centuries, the Bakunawa was dismissed as nothing more than a cultural myth—an old wives’ tale meant to explain eclipses. But what if the ancient Filipinos were not imagining a monster, but describing a species we have yet to document?”
“During my expedition to the Philippine Trench, our team encountered an anomaly—a sonar shadow too large to belong to any known marine creature. We recorded a slow, rhythmic movement, distinct from whale migrations or tectonic activity. More troubling, local fishermen report ‘an island that was not there the next morning.’ Their descriptions match ancient accounts of the Bakunawa—a stationary landmass with a ‘rocky head’ that occasionally surfaces.”
“Could this be a surviving member of the Ekleipsiosaur lineage? The implications would be staggering—not just for biology, but for our understanding of myth as a vessel for lost history.”
Appendix B: Bitácora del Capitán, 1763 – Galeón Español ‘La Esperanza’
Translated from a firsthand account of a terrifying sea monster mistaken for an island.
“On the fourth night of our voyage across the Visayan seas, the men grew uneasy. The moonlight dimmed, yet there were no clouds. The ocean, once calm, churned in unnatural circles, as if something below was breathing.”
“Then we saw it—a black mass, rising from the depths. At first, I mistook it for a reef or a hidden atoll, but as the waves crashed upon it, I saw it move. A great, gleaming eye opened amidst the darkness. A sound like rolling thunder filled the air, and the water pulled at our ship as if dragged by an unseen force.”
“We barely escaped with our lives. I have no explanation for what we saw that night, but I fear we have crossed into a realm man was never meant to disturb.”
Appendix C: Excerpt from ‘Lost Giants of the Deep’ – National Geographic Interview (2023)
Modern experts discuss whether the Bakunawa could still be real.
Interviewer: Dr. Reyes, you’ve spent years researching maritime folklore. Do you believe there’s any truth to the Bakunawa myth?
Dr. Reyes (Marine Biologist, UP Diliman): Absolutely. Many ‘sea monsters’ throughout history have turned out to be real animals—like the Kraken, which we now know as the giant squid. The Bakunawa might be another case where folklore preserves a distorted memory of an extinct species.
Dr. Alvarez (Zoologist, Philippine Marine Institute): But we have no solid fossil evidence. Large marine reptiles supposedly died out millions of years ago.
Dr. Reyes: True, but consider this: We discover new deep-sea species all the time. In 2021, we found the megamouth shark, a species previously thought to be a hoax. If an Ekleipsiosaur adapted to deep-sea environments, it could have remained undetected.
Interviewer: So you’re saying the Bakunawa might still be out there?
Dr. Reyes: I’m saying that the ocean is vast, and history has a habit of proving myths right.
Conclusion: Science, Myth, and the Future
Whether the Bakunawa sea monster was the last of its kind or an enduring mystery, it represents the fascinating overlap between science and mythology. Perhaps, in the deepest trenches of the ocean, the Bakunawa still waits for the moon to rise once more.