Copyright 2004 Garth Guessman

This carving seems to show a snake

biting the tail of another creature

http://www.laattorneyvideo.com/nonlegal/pterosaurs/carv13/

Some investigators of the ropen phenomenon suspect this is a work of art that had its original inspiration in the ropen legends or sightings in Papua New Guinea. One of the legends involves the superstition that the ropen can transform itself into a snake and then back into a ropen. This may relate to the snake-like tail of the creature. Many eyewitnesses of the ropen itself, describe a long tail but no feathers.

Large nocturnal flying creatures are reported in many coastal areas of Papua New Guinea, including Umboi Island. Some of the serious researchers believe one species is probably responsible for legends and sightings involved with names such as duwas, seklo-bali, and ropen. This may be the same type of creature seen by two Australians over Perth years ago.