Frankly, it sounds more like he is describing a machine instead of an animal. Something akin to an M-1 Abrams tank but much more advanced.
I have thought that as well. Part of the mystery is finding out how his descriptions actually match up to the reality—though I suspect we’ll find other issues more pressing. Still, we’ll be watching from afar....
John the revelator sung by blind willie johnson (his song “dark was the night” was sent out into space to “search for Intelligent life, along with other works by other song writers and singers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hucTDV1Fvo