The Loch Ness monster probably doesn't exist, but if it does it might be a giant eel.

A group of international scientists led by Neil Gemmell, of the University of Otago, New Zealand, analyzed DNA samples from the murky waters of the Scottish lake and identified about 3,000 different species, the Guardian reported. Most species are so small they can barely be seen, and the data suggests some of the outlandish theories about Nessie can be ruled out, Gemmell wrote in a release.

Some have theorized Nessie might be a Jurassic-era reptile like a Plesiosaur or some sort of giant fish. Gemmell's team found no evidence of a creature living in the loch that is remotely related to dinosaurs, giant catfish, sturgeon or sharks.

"Our investigation, like every investigation before it, has no definitive proof of the monster," Gemmell wrote. "We do however have a further theory to test, that of the giant eel, and it may be worth exploring this in more detail."

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Researchers found a large amount of eel DNA, along with other common creatures including humans, dogs, sheep, cattle and deer. Although this data can't determine the size of the eels living in Loch Ness, it's worth noting the largest known European eel was 4 feet long and almost 12 pounds.

"It doesn’t sound like a monster, does it?" Gemmell said at a press conference covered by the Guardian. "But based on the evidence we’ve accumulated, we can’t exclude it as a possibility.”

Researchers began studying the biodiversity of Loch Ness in June 2018 by extracting and sequencing remnants of DNA left behind by animals, called environmental or eDNA, from 250 samples of its water from various locations and depths.

They were then able to compare the DNA samples to large DNA databases that contain genetic information for more than 100,000 different organisms.

Although Gemmell doubts they missed any major living creatures, he didn't completely rule out the possibility either. He pointed out that they may have sampled the wrong places at the wrong time or failed to detect "Nessie" because its DNA could not be matched to anything in the database.

"Proving something does not exist is pretty much impossible," Gemmell wrote.

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