The hunt for proof of the Loch Ness monster's existence may be over - and it doesn't lie in a blurry photograph.

Fossils of a creature bearing a 'striking' similarity to depictions of Nessie have been found in a 19th century collection.

Originally belonging to Cromarty writer and geologist, Hugh Miller, the specimens now sit in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

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Vital clue? Scientists have revealed that the rediscovered fossil dubbed 'Pessie' (pictured) may have lived at the bottom of the freshwater lakes that would later become Loch Ness

The intriguing fossils were rediscovered when the president of the Official Loch Ness Fan Club, Gary Campbell, was invited to the museum and spotted them.

He saw the resemblance and called for scientists to investigate the ancient creature.

As part of research for the upcoming Inverness Science Festival, museum and festival teams went hunting for the origins of the fossil, belonging to a species known as Pterichthyoides milleri - or 'Pessie' as it has been christened.

Now researchers have revealed that 'Pessie' may have lived at the bottom of the lakes that would later become Loch Ness.

The fish ancestor roamed Earth's freshwater lakes during the Paleozoic Era, between 542 million and 251 million years ago.

The creatures were some of the earliest known vertebrates to possess jaws, though they had grinding plates rather than teeth.

Great-great grandma? Pterichthyoides milleri (illustration pictured) roamed Earth's freshwater lakes during the Paleozoic Era, between 542 million and 251 million years ago

The name 'Pterichthyodes' refers to the creatures' odd wing-like appendages - 'pterichthys' coming from the Ancient Greek for 'wing-fish'.

It is believed that the 'wings' led to the pectoral fins seen in modern fish.

Cait McCullagh, curator at the museum said: 'If you think of the picture that most people have in their heads of the Loch Ness Monster, our fossils pretty much meet what they would expect.

'Pterichthyoides milleri lived at the bottom of freshwater lochs and had flippers to help it move around.

'Its head and back were covered in an armoured shell, showing that it was well-protected from predator attacks; ready for anything.'

SATELLITE IMAGE REVEALS MYSTERIOUS SHAPE LURKING IN LOCH NESS In 2013, this shadowy form measuring around 100ft long and seemingly having two giant flippers powering it through the waters of Loch Ness was photographed by Apple's satellite map app. The image was studied by experts at the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club, who concluded it is ‘likely’ to be the elusive beast. Elusive: A satellite high in the atmosphere, accessed using Apple's satellite map app, took this amazing image of a creature swimming below the surface of the world famous loch Advertisement

During preparation work for the Festival, Dr Evelyn Gray, an orthopaedic researcher and imaging specialist who is part of the Science Festival team worked with Cait on the history of 'Pessie'.

The investigations were undertaken as part of research into possible scientific explanations for the origins of the Loch Ness Monster

'It became clear that what we have here could be Nessie's great granny,' explained Dr Gray.

'It fits all the criteria that people around the world associate with lake monsters, albeit a little smaller than popular images would suggest.

'However, if we assume that this form of Nessie would evolve in a normal fashion, then we can project how biological changes over the millennia might make it similar to the larger Nessie we think of today'.

Tantalising: Many hunters have claimed to have spotted the elusive Loch ness beast - such this photo of its 'head taken in November 2014 - but concrete evidence has been lacking until now

Gary Campbell, President of the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club said: 'This is fantastic news for all Nessie fans.

'We always said that the first sighting of the monster was by St Columba 1450 years ago - now we can say her family has been living in the area for 360 million years.'

'For the first time, visitors to Loch Ness can be guaranteed to see a real Nessie, notwithstanding that it's one that's a few years older than her relative that lives in the loch today.

'No one is sure of what Nessie actually is and the popular view is that she's some sort of dinosaur - maybe she's actually Pessie after all'

'Pessie' is available to view in the museum in Inverness but visitors will have the chance to actually hold her during a lecture on the origins of the Loch Ness Monster on 7th May 2015.