Lake monster or loch monster is the name given to large unknown animals which have purportely been sighted in, and/or are believed to dwell in freshwaters, although their existence has never been confirmed scientifically. Most of them have no evidence besides alleged sightings and controversial photographs and a large portion are generally believed not to exist by conventional zoology and allied sciences, and are principally the subject of investigations by followers of cryptozoology. Sightings are often similar to some sea monsters.