Taniwha

A 'taniwha' (pronounced "TUHN-i-fuh") is a legendary monster said by the Maori to live in the ocean and inland waters of New Zealand, hiding in deep pools, rivers, lakes and dark caves.

Long relegated to the realms of folklore, taniwha underwent a renaissance in 2002 as inadvertant environmental guardians of sites otherwise prone to bulldozer-oriented development.

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A taniwhasaur is a variety of mosasaur.