This strange animal was called Lariosauro, the same name used a century before to name a prehistoric reptile (Lariosaurus balsami) whose fossilized remains were found by the lake in 1830.

The legendary creature of Lake Como is known as the Lariosauro (or "Larrie" to locals). Similar to the Loch Ness Monster, the Lariosauro is based on a mix of prehistoric fact and modern folklore. In the mid-19th century, fossils of a small aquatic reptile called Lariosaurus balsami—which lived about 240 million years ago—were discovered near the lake. These reptiles were relatively small (about 2 to 4 feet long). However, the "monster" legend grew in the 20th century, particularly after a 1946 sighting where hunters claimed to see a 10-to-12-meter-long scaly creature near the shore. Since then, occasional reports of giant eels or strange ripples have kept the legend alive. While most scientists attribute these sightings to large sturgeon or schools of fish, the Lariosauro remains a popular piece of local culture, with a dedicated exhibit at Vezio Castle near Varenna where you can see casts of the original fossils that started the mystery.