Woodcut of an "animal called Huspalim" from Des Monstres et prodiges by Ambroise Paré, 1573. Des Monstres is filled with unsubstantiated accounts of sea devils, marine sows, and monstrous animals with human faces. With its extensive discussion of reproduc

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Woodcut of an "animal called Huspalim" from Des Monstres et prodiges by Ambroise Paré, 1573. Des Monstres is filled with unsubstantiated accounts of sea devils, marine sows, and monstrous animals with human faces. With its extensive discussion of reproduction and illustrations of birth defects, the book invited accusations of pornography. A huspalim has been described as a large marmot that had red-spotted skin an extraordinary large head with a monkey's face. It lived in Ethiopia where it was captured and eaten. Its meat was too tough to eat so the creature needed a lot of beating before its flesh was tenderized.

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Size: 3509px × 3000px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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