Three identical 'creatures'
'Creatures' 1 & 2
The objects at the center-bottom of the large photograph extract below are far less ambiguous and far harder to dismiss than the 'lizards'.
And if a reptilian explanation of these photographs is tentatively accepted, then a reptilian interpretation of the 'lizards' on the preceding page becomes more feasible.
The first object in the large photograph is clearly visible. The second (immediately to the left of the first) is less distinct but still recognizable.
The objects appear thin and wavy, and definitely extend against the force of gravity in vertical directions. From the play of light and shadow on the objects, they appear to be tubular and flexible.
In the complete NASA photograph that contains these details, it can be seen that these objects originate from very near the Martian surface, in rocks at the foot of a cliff formation.
It is very hard to accept that these objects are rock formations created by erosion.
And if a reptilian explanation of these photographs is tentatively accepted, then a reptilian interpretation of the 'lizards' on the preceding page becomes more feasible.
The first object in the large photograph is clearly visible. The second (immediately to the left of the first) is less distinct but still recognizable.
The objects appear thin and wavy, and definitely extend against the force of gravity in vertical directions. From the play of light and shadow on the objects, they appear to be tubular and flexible.
In the complete NASA photograph that contains these details, it can be seen that these objects originate from very near the Martian surface, in rocks at the foot of a cliff formation.
It is very hard to accept that these objects are rock formations created by erosion.
Above: An enlarged view of the 'serpent' objects. The foreground object appears to have an irregular extremity, corresponding with the expected position of a terrestrial snake's head.
Here is a video of terrestrial snakes leaping rapidly up a similar cliff face (in pursuit of prey in this case, see at the 1'45" mark)
Here is a video of terrestrial snakes leaping rapidly up a similar cliff face (in pursuit of prey in this case, see at the 1'45" mark)
'Creature' 3
Only frivolous attention has been given to the object seen below, which was photographed by an earlier NASA Rover, Spirit, which touched down on Mars on January 4, 2004.
The suggestion has been made that the image shows some kind of tail-pipe formation or exhaust assembly. This interpretation relies on the supposed connection between the semi-upright feature and the cube-like projection to its left, which some interpret as indicating artificial origin.
However, if one ignores the cube-like projection as a mundane jagged rock feature, the organic appearance of the semi-upright object becomes very conspicuous. It closely resembles a terrestrial snake in a reared-up attitude, behavior which is famously displayed by Indian cobras.
The dark area at the position corresponding to the head of a terrestrial snake may or may not be a shadow in the background. It is certainly not the opening to an artificial tube, although the play of light and shadow on the object strongly indicates it is tubiform. It is tempting to interpret this black 'spot' as a mouth of some kind, but the quality of the image does not allow us to do so with any degree of confidence.
The suggestion has been made that the image shows some kind of tail-pipe formation or exhaust assembly. This interpretation relies on the supposed connection between the semi-upright feature and the cube-like projection to its left, which some interpret as indicating artificial origin.
However, if one ignores the cube-like projection as a mundane jagged rock feature, the organic appearance of the semi-upright object becomes very conspicuous. It closely resembles a terrestrial snake in a reared-up attitude, behavior which is famously displayed by Indian cobras.
The dark area at the position corresponding to the head of a terrestrial snake may or may not be a shadow in the background. It is certainly not the opening to an artificial tube, although the play of light and shadow on the object strongly indicates it is tubiform. It is tempting to interpret this black 'spot' as a mouth of some kind, but the quality of the image does not allow us to do so with any degree of confidence.
This object was photographed on two separate occasions, on Sol 229 (i.e., the 229th Martian day) of the Spirit Rover's mission.
The first photograph was taken at 12:57.22 (Mars local time).
The second photograph was taken at 12:59.01 (Mars local time)
During the interval between the two photographs (slightly over one minute and 32 seconds in terrestrial units) the semi-upright feature appears to have moved slightly in relation to its immediate background.
This observable difference is potentially caused by parallax from the changing position of the Spirit Rover.
However, a total lack of movement in the object would not prove it was inanimate.
There is a sound reason for staying completely still in an upright position.
Terrestrial snakes do so in order to survey their environment. Remaining motionless means they can observe events without alerting their prey and without attracting the attention of nearby predators.
Here is a video of a terrestrial snake sitting upright and motionless for at least one minute.
The first photograph was taken at 12:57.22 (Mars local time).
The second photograph was taken at 12:59.01 (Mars local time)
During the interval between the two photographs (slightly over one minute and 32 seconds in terrestrial units) the semi-upright feature appears to have moved slightly in relation to its immediate background.
This observable difference is potentially caused by parallax from the changing position of the Spirit Rover.
However, a total lack of movement in the object would not prove it was inanimate.
There is a sound reason for staying completely still in an upright position.
Terrestrial snakes do so in order to survey their environment. Remaining motionless means they can observe events without alerting their prey and without attracting the attention of nearby predators.
Here is a video of a terrestrial snake sitting upright and motionless for at least one minute.
Considerations
- It seems unlikely that there is some erosive force on Mars that is unknown on Earth, that is capable of whittling individual rocks into slender and gently-curved serpentine forms without also affecting the rocks immediately next and adjacent to them. A biological phenomenon of some kind therefore seems prima facie plausible and credible, despite the forbidding Martian environment.
- All three 'creatures' seem to be emerging from shelter. This in itself is significant. It might be the case that they were separately disturbed by the vibrations of the nearby Rover, carried in the thin Martian atmosphere, or transmitted through the ground
- If the 'creatures' normally shelter during Martian daytime, it might logically follow that they are nocturnal. And this would be consistent with survival on a planet with a high level of incoming solar radiation, as Mars is known to be.
- Moreover, reptiles in Earth's arid deserts are known to shelter from the extreme heat of the Sun during the day, and to emerge at dusk to absorb the day's stored heat as it radiates from the ground. Although temperatures on present-day Mars are far lower than on Earth, similar behavior in Martian reptiles would provide a highly satisfactory explanation for their survival following a sudden increase in solar radiation levels, as is believed to have happened during the Martian cataclysm.
- Added to this is the fact that most reptiles found in Earth's arid deserts are 'ambush predators' that conserve their energy by lying in wait, hidden from view, until they sense prey nearby. Such behavior would be entirely consistent with the emergence of Martian reptiles in response to the activity of a NASA Rover moving about in their immediate vicinity
- However, this 'response to disturbance' scenario is also compatible with 'flight' behavior, which again is the chief defense mechanism among terrestrial reptiles when they are discovered.
Hypothesis
During journeys through the regions being studied, two separate NASA Mars Rover missions created localised disturbances that attracted the attention of snake-like creatures.
This happened on two occasions.
The first was in 2004, during the Spirit Rover mission.
The second was during the Curiosity mission in September 2016.
The Curiosity incident involved two such creatures. The Spirit incident involved one.
These three creatures emerged from their sheltering places to investigate or to flee.
In the process of revealing themselves in Martian daylight, these creatures were inadvertently recorded in photographs taken years apart by two separate NASA Rovers operating nearby.
This happened on two occasions.
The first was in 2004, during the Spirit Rover mission.
The second was during the Curiosity mission in September 2016.
The Curiosity incident involved two such creatures. The Spirit incident involved one.
These three creatures emerged from their sheltering places to investigate or to flee.
In the process of revealing themselves in Martian daylight, these creatures were inadvertently recorded in photographs taken years apart by two separate NASA Rovers operating nearby.