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Was this creature actually spotted swimming in the James River?

Posted at 12:05 PM, May 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-10 14:00:23-04

RICHMOND, Va. — It is once again safe to go back into the water.

An image of a dragon-like creature was posted on the WTVR CBS 6 Facebook page by a viewer who was curious about what he saw in the picture.

“Please help me. What is this creature swimming in the James River?” the viewer asked on the WTVR Facebook page.

River creature

You have questions… we have answers.

The image is of a Diplocaulus.

It was first posted online in October 2015.

The Diplocaulus has been extinct for more than 200 million years.

So what exactly is in the photo?

It is actually a piece of art created by Japanese sculpture Goro Furuta, according to representative with Virginia State Parks.

Since the image has been shared online for months now, we doubt it was actually taken in the James River.

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