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Overview and Evidence[]
The Gowrow is a reptilian creature or species occasionally reported to live deep within the Ozark Mountains, a physiographic region located in the American south, particularly in the state of Arkansas. Named so for the unearthly screams and guttural groans it is said to emit, the beast has since become a large part of Arkansas folklore.
While reported sightings are rare, the creature is generally said to be reptilian in nature and nearly 20 feet in length. Two enormous tusks like those of a boar erupt from its fearsome maw and were used in conjunction with its large claws to tear apart prey. A row of spines are said to run down its back, culminating in a razor-sharp blade on the tip of the tale. Strangely, mother gowrows are reported to carry their young, who hatch from soft-shelled eggs of enormous size, in a marsupial-like pouch, a trait unheard of among known reptiles.[1]
There are several potential explanations for the gowrow legend. It could, of course, be a case of mistaken identity. The only animal in Arkansas known to have large tusks is the wild boar, but this would hardly explain the more general appearance. A more fitting candidate, although a tuskless one, would be the American alligator, which are native to most of the southeastern United States.[2] The largest American alligator ever recorded was found in the neighboring state of Louisiana and measured just over 19 feet, so an unusually large alligator being sighted in an Arkansas marsh isn't completely out of the question.[3]
It is also hypothetically possible that the gowrow could be some kind of undiscovered species. This is, of course, highly unlikely. A species like this would require thousands of them across the south to maintain a breeding population, and their large sizes and ravenous appetites would ensure that they wouldn't remain hidden for long. In addition, the detail regarding the young being carried in a pouch is highly questionable as no known reptiles carry their young in this way. The purpose of the pouch in marsupials is to allow the joeys to nurse and develop in safety in lieu of a placenta, an issue not present in reptiles.
Alleged Sightings[]
Third-Person Accounts[]
Sometime in January of 1897, a Little Rock, Arkansas resident named William Miller was hiking in the Ozarks when he stumbled upon the small town of Blanco. The townspeople related to him how numerous animals such as pets and livestock had gone missing, prompting Miller to round up a search group. After searching for some time, the group came upon an enormous reptilian creature with large tusks emerging from a nearby lake. With some effort, the group managed to kill the animal. Miller claimed that he donated the body to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. but that the body never arrived there.[4]
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