The dobhar-chú (Irish: "water hound," "otter," or "king otter") or master otter is a river and lake monster reported from the island of Ireland and certain Hebridean islands, within the countries of Ireland and the United Kingdom. It is supposedly an aggressive water-dwelling animal similar to an otter, but perhaps five times as large.[1][2] A creature possibly fitting the description of the dobharchu was seen in 1968 by two men driving near Sraheens Lough on Achill Island, County Mayo. It had a sleek black or dark brown appearance with a sheep or doglike head on a longish neck, back legs longer than the front legs, a long thick tail and it ran with a slightly rocking, side to side gait as it crossed the road. The men estimated its size at approximately 2.5 feet high and over 8 feet in total length.[3]
