This would account for the dragon stories and many encounters of strange dinosaur-like beasts with men. One documented case took place in 1572 in Bologna, Italy. A peasant slew an animal whose description fits that of a Tanystropheus. The ancient history of China is replete with such stories. While we cannot answer with certainty, we believe it is highly probable.
Many translations have whales.
The hebrew word is tannim and is translated dragon or leviathan in 20 or more passages. Sometimes commentaries and marginal notes indicate that what is being described is probably a hippopotamus or an elephant. Read it for yourself. Granted this is poetry, however, we do not believe this is purely imaginary. God is describing some existing beast to portray His own greatness.