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The hunt for proof of the the Loch Ness monster's existence may be over - and it doesn't lie in a blurry photograph.

Fossils of a creature bearing a 'striking' similarity to depictions of Nessie have been found in a 19th century collection.

Originally belonging to Cromarty writer and geologist, Hugh Miller, the specimens now sit in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

Vital clue? Scientists have revealed that the rediscovered fossil dubbed 'Pessie' (pictured) may have lived at the bottom of the freshwater lakes that would later become Loch Ness

The intriguing fossils were rediscovered when the president of the Official Loch Ness Fan Club, Gary Campbell, was invited to the museum and spotted them.

He saw the resemblance and called for scientists to investigate the ancient creature.

As part of research for the upcoming Inverness Science Festival, museum and festival teams went hunting for the origins of the fossil, belonging to a species known as Pterichthyoides milleri - or 'Pessie' as it has been christened.

Now researchers have revealed that 'Pessie' may have lived at the bottom of the lakes that would later become Loch Ness. 

The fish ancestor roamed Earth's freshwater lakes during the Paleozoic Era, between 542 million and 251 million years ago.

The creatures were some of the earliest known vertebrates to possess jaws, though they had grinding plates rather than teeth. 

Great-great grandma? Pterichthyoides milleri (illustration pictured) roamed Earth's freshwater lakes during the Paleozoic Era, between 542 million and 251 million years ago

The  name 'Pterichthyodes' refers to the creatures' odd wing-like appendages - 'pterichthys' coming from the Ancient Greek for 'wing-fish'.

It is believed that the 'wings' led to the pectoral fins seen in modern fish.

Cait McCullagh, curator at the museum said: 'If you think of the picture that most people have in their heads of the Loch Ness Monster, our fossils pretty much meet what they would expect. 

'Pterichthyoides milleri lived at the bottom of freshwater lochs and had flippers to help it move around.

'Its head and back were covered in an armoured shell, showing that it was well-protected from predator attacks; ready for anything.'

SATELLITE IMAGE REVEALS MYSTERIOUS SHAPE LURKING IN LOCH NESS

In 2013, this shadowy form measuring around 100ft long and seemingly having two giant flippers powering it through the waters of Loch Ness was photographed by Apple's satellite map app.

The image was studied by experts at the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club, who concluded it is 'likely' to be the elusive beast.

Elusive: A satellite high in the atmosphere, accessed using Apple's satellite map app, took this amazing image of a creature swimming below the surface of the world famous loch

During preparation work for the Festival, Dr Evelyn Gray, an orthopaedic researcher and imaging specialist who is part of the Science Festival team worked with Cait on the history of 'Pessie'. 

The investigations were undertaken as part of research into possible scientific explanations for the origins of the Loch Ness Monster

'It became clear that what we have here could be Nessie's great granny,' explained Dr Gray. 

'It fits all the criteria that people around the world associate with lake monsters, albeit a little smaller than popular images would suggest.

'However, if we assume that this form of Nessie would evolve in a normal fashion, then we can project how biological changes over the millennia might make it similar to the larger Nessie we think of today'.

Tantalising: Many hunters have claimed to have spotted the elusive Loch ness beast - such this photo of its 'head taken in November 2014 - but concrete evidence has been lacking until now

Gary Campbell, President of the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club said: 'This is fantastic news for all Nessie fans. 

'We always said that the first sighting of the monster was by St Columba 1450 years ago - now we can say her family has been living in the area for 360 million years.'

'For the first time, visitors to Loch Ness can be guaranteed to see a real Nessie, notwithstanding that it's one that's a few years older than her relative that lives in the loch today.

'No one is sure of what Nessie actually is and the popular view is that she's some sort of dinosaur - maybe she's actually Pessie after all'

'Pessie' is available to view in the museum in Inverness but visitors will have the chance to actually hold her during a lecture on the origins of the Loch Ness Monster on 7th May 2015. 

SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS 'SIGHTINGS' OF THE LOCH NESS MONSTER

An online register lists 1067 total Nessie sightings. The list was created by Gary Campbell, the man behind the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club and is available at http://ift.tt/1jczBFF

Mr Campbell said: 'Jonathan's photo bears an incredible similarity to Bob Rines series of pictures and will certainly further stimulate discussion about this enduring legend.'

Among the most famous claimed sightings is a photograph taken in 1934 by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson (below). 

It was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged.

This famous photograph, produced in 1934, was exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, on his deathbed

A close-up of what could be the Loch Ness Monster. The photo was taken by William Jobes in 2011

Another renowned sighting was made in 2001 by semi-retired photographer James Gray and his friend Peter Levings when they were out fishing on the Loch

This blurred picture, said to show the Loch Ness Monster, was taken by Hugh Gray in 1933 and published in the Daily Express