Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry has "Monsters of the Deep" until the end of April, and it includes a 32' giant squid model. Unfortunately, it'll be gone before TONMOCon, but if anyone will be in the area...
http://www.mosi.org/images/monsters_ofthe_deep/giantsquid_motd.jpg

http://www.mosi.org/monstersofthedeep.html

Good stuff, though not very realistic :wink: I'm afraid I won't be over before the con...

I live in Tampa, so I'll try to post some pics for further analysis at a later date. I must agree with you so far, though...

Manatee = monster

manatee = mermaid

(just ask Sam and Max, Freelance Police!)

dugong=mermaid

I work at a zoo that has a manatee hospital, and have helped with many treatments... when you find yourself at the bottom of a drained pool with 1,000 pounds of pissed-off sirenia, it can be pretty unnerving. Just saying.

mermaid = sirenia

Sweet. I am down in Sarasota. Been looking forward to this. Will have to check it out soon.

Here be some pics. Kinda crappy, my apologies. There are also ammonites, and the like.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79892962@N00/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79892962http://www.flickr.com/photos/79892962@N00/@N00/)http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/349481304_01d30f9406_m.jpg