The Legend of the Serra Revisited: Identifying the Composite Creature

This article focusses on the unidentified marine monster called the serra, which appears in multiple medieval sources. It argues that the serra should be viewed as a compilation of knowledge about several water-borne animals. It further demonstrates the influences of Christianity and of Islamic culture upon the serra’s representations. In the conclusion, the article identifies potential fields for further investigation, which can improve our knowledge of the medieval perceptions of nonhuman animals.