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* ''VideoGame/ScoobyDooClassicCreepCapers'': The Ghoul King, despite being another guy in a costume in the end, has a castle full of horrors that are very elaborate for fakes. One such horror are two giant tentacles that emerge from the moat around his castle that attack anyone not authorized to pass by.
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* ''Literature/TheCityOfBrass'': PlayedWith. The djinn's capital city is in the middle of a lake of MurderWater that tears apart anyone who so much as dips a toe in. They use it as a defensive feature (and for executions), but it originated in a {{Curse}} against them by the [[MakingASplash marid]], from whom they stole the lake.
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* ''Literature/TheCityOfBrass'': PlayedWith.''Literature/TheDaevabadTrilogy'': PlayedWith in ''The City of Brass''. The djinn's capital city is in the middle of a lake of MurderWater that tears apart anyone who so much as dips a toe in. They use it as a defensive feature (and for executions), but it originated in a {{Curse}} against them by the [[MakingASplash marid]], from whom they stole the lake.
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-->-- '''Merlin''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone''
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-->-- '''Merlin''', '''Merlin''' on a [[PikePeril pike]], ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone''
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A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]]. However, other dangerous aquatic and semi-aquatic predators will easily suffice, so don't be surprised to see examples that feature the likes of sharks, piranhas, eels or even, in more fantastical settings, {{Sea Monster}}s -- [[StockNessMonster Nessie lookalikes]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent water dragons]], and SeaSerpents are all known to turn up in this role.
to:
A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]]. However, other dangerous aquatic and semi-aquatic predators will easily suffice, so don't be surprised to see examples that feature the likes of sharks, piranhas, eels (meat-eating, electric, or both) or even, in more fantastical settings, {{Sea Monster}}s -- [[StockNessMonster Nessie lookalikes]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent water dragons]], and SeaSerpents are all known to turn up in this role.
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* ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'': Downplayed. In the 'The Sword in the Stone'', the castle moat is ruled by an enormous and quite [[PikePeril vicious Pike]] who upon encountering the young Arthur (whom Merlin transformed into a fish at his request) argues MightMakesRight and that power is the only thing worth respecting before trying to eat him. Merlin intended the experience as a warning to Arthur about the dangers of absolute power and how it leads to tyrants.
* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'': In ''Literature/{{Marlfox}}'', Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with [[PikePeril pike]] (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'': In ''Literature/{{Marlfox}}'', Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with [[PikePeril pike]] (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
to:
* ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'': Downplayed. In the 'The ''The Sword in the Stone'', the castle moat is ruled by an enormous and quite [[PikePeril vicious Pike]] who upon encountering the young Arthur (whom Merlin transformed into a fish at his request) argues MightMakesRight and that power is the only thing worth respecting before trying to eat him. Merlin intended the experience as a warning to Arthur about the dangers of absolute power and how it leads to tyrants.
* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'': In ''Literature/{{Marlfox}}'', Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with[[PikePeril pike]] {{pike|peril}} (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'': In ''Literature/{{Marlfox}}'', Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with
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* ''Literature/ToyAcademy'': Evil Toy Academy has windup toy alligators in its moat. Since all the characters are LivingToys, this is more threatening than it would be if the characters were human.
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* ''Literature/GoblinsInTheCastle'': Early on, William's narration reveals that his nurse fell in the moat of Toad-in-a-Cage Castle and got eaten by "something-or-other" when he was five. Exactly what the something-or-other is has never been specified. It gets brought up again in ''Goblins on the Prowl'' when Fauna recalls William telling her about the incident, and looks down to see large, dark shapes with enormous eyes swimming in the moat.
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** Legend has it that in 15th century the Guards of Castle Maschio Angioino came to notice that prisoners trapped within the castigate were disappearing, but despite their best efforts they could could not figure out how escape was possible as the castle's moat was under sea level. Then one day they witnessed a giant crocodile emerging from a hidden hole in the moat and dragging the terrified prisoner in his jaws out to sea to eat. Rather than kill the beast, the guards instead made it an "executioner of Justice" and would put condemned prisoners in the cell for the beast to devour. This carried on until one day the crocodile got too greedy and tried to devour an entire horse that was drinking from the moat, and choked to death. The beast is generally agreed to have been a Nile crocodile that arrived from Egypt but how it got to Naples differs from legend to legend.
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** Legend has it that in 15th century the Guards of Castle Maschio Angioino came to notice that prisoners trapped within the castigate were disappearing, but despite their best efforts they could could not figure out how escape was possible as the castle's moat was under sea level. Then one day they witnessed a giant crocodile emerging from a hidden hole in the moat and dragging the terrified prisoner in his jaws out to sea to eat. Rather than kill the beast, the guards instead made it an "executioner of Justice" and would put condemned prisoners in the cell for the beast to devour. This carried on until one day the crocodile got too greedy and tried to devour an entire horse that was drinking from the moat, and choked to death. The beast is generally agreed to have been a Nile crocodile that arrived from Egypt but how it got to Naples differs from legend to legend.
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* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1'': Vector, Gru's nemesis, keeps what appears to be a very large, toothy, man-eating shark in the moat around his enormous home/headquarters. The Shark viciously mauls Gru during one of his [[FailureMontage many failed attempts to to break in]]. Subverted in the climax when it jumps up to attack Gru when he tries again, where now running on full PapaWolf mode he [[OffHandBackHand punches it out with one fist while not even looking at it]].
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* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1'': Vector, Gru's nemesis, keeps what appears to be a very large, toothy, man-eating shark in the moat around his enormous home/headquarters. The Shark shark viciously mauls Gru during one of his [[FailureMontage many failed attempts to to break in]]. Subverted in the climax when it jumps up to attack Gru when he tries again, where now running on full PapaWolf mode he [[OffHandBackHand punches it out with one fist while not even looking at it]].
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** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheReluctantWerewolf'': Dracula's Castle moat has at least one crocodile. It proceeds to foil Shaggy and Scooby's attempt to escape the castle with a BedsheetLadder, although Scooby [[DelayedOhCrap doesn't notice until he's already climbed down into its mouth without knowing it was there]].
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** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheReluctantWerewolf'': Dracula's Castle castle moat has at least one crocodile. It proceeds to foil Shaggy and Scooby's attempt to escape the castle with a BedsheetLadder, although Scooby [[DelayedOhCrap doesn't notice until he's already climbed down into its mouth without knowing it was there]].
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** Legend has it that in 15th century the Guards of Castle Maschio Angioino came to notice that prisoners trapped within the castigate were disappearing, but despite their best efforts they could could not figure out how escape was possible as the castle's moat was under sea level. Then one day they witnessed a giant crocodile emerging from a hidden hole in the moat and dragging the terrified prisoner in his jaws out to sea to eat. Rather than kill the beast, the guards instead made it an "executioner of Justice" and would put condemned prisoners in the cell for the beast to devour. This carried on until one day the crocodile got too greedy and tried to devour an entire horse that was drinking from the moat, and choked to death. The beast is generally agreed to have been a Nile crocodile that arrived from Egypt but how it got Naples differs from legend to legend.
to:
** Legend has it that in 15th century the Guards of Castle Maschio Angioino came to notice that prisoners trapped within the castigate were disappearing, but despite their best efforts they could could not figure out how escape was possible as the castle's moat was under sea level. Then one day they witnessed a giant crocodile emerging from a hidden hole in the moat and dragging the terrified prisoner in his jaws out to sea to eat. Rather than kill the beast, the guards instead made it an "executioner of Justice" and would put condemned prisoners in the cell for the beast to devour. This carried on until one day the crocodile got too greedy and tried to devour an entire horse that was drinking from the moat, and choked to death. The beast is generally agreed to have been a Nile crocodile that arrived from Egypt but how it got to Naples differs from legend to legend.
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** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool'' has the eponymous location surrounded by a moat inhabited by a two-headed ThreateningShark.
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** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool'' has the eponymous location surrounded by a moat inhabited by a two-headed ThreateningShark.
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[[folder: Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': One issue involves the two agents falling into a dry moat and Filemon is relieved because no water means no [[Main/ThreateningShark sharks]]. Only for Mortadelo to explain to him that it's more practical for a moat to have crocodiles... just like the really big and hungry one he is pointing at.
* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': One issue involves the two agents falling into a dry moat and Filemon is relieved because no water means no [[Main/ThreateningShark sharks]]. Only for Mortadelo to explain to him that it's more practical for a moat to have crocodiles... just like the really big and hungry one he is pointing at.
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*
-->''"Come on, it’s not even that
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[[folder: Comic Strips]]
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* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': One issue involves the two agents falling into a dry moat and Filemon is relieved because no water means no [[Main/ThreateningShark sharks]]. Only for Mortadelo to explain to him that it's more practical for a moat to have crocodiles... just like the really big and hungry one he is pointing at.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Strips]]
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A fortress' most fundamental purpose is defence, so logically the more defences it has the better. So you've got [[BigFancyCastle your towering citadel]], your [[CitadelCity great impenetrable walls stretching around the entire settlement]], your [[CityGuards mighty army of loyal defenders]] ready to man the walls, your drawbridge, portcullis and naturally your vast deep moat. What else can you add to be absolutely sure your fortress is impenetrable?
Simple fill the moat with ferocious man-eating beasts. A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]].
However, other dangerous aquatic and semi-aquatic predators will easily suffice. So don't be surprised to see examples that feature the likes of Sharks, Piranha, Eels or even, in more fantastical settings, Sea Monsters.
Simple fill the moat with ferocious man-eating beasts. A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]].
However, other dangerous aquatic and semi-aquatic predators will easily suffice. So don't be surprised to see examples that feature the likes of Sharks, Piranha, Eels or even, in more fantastical settings, Sea Monsters.
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A fortress' most fundamental purpose is defence, so logically the more defences it has the better. So you've got [[BigFancyCastle your towering citadel]], your [[CitadelCity great impenetrable walls stretching around the entire settlement]], your [[CityGuards mighty army of loyal defenders]] ready to man the walls, your drawbridge, portcullis and naturally your vast deep moat. What else can you add to be absolutely sure your fortress is impenetrable?
impenetrable? Simple -- fill the moat with ferocious man-eating beasts. beasts.
A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodilecrocodiles]].
crocodiles]]. However, other dangerous aquatic and semi-aquatic predators will easily suffice. So suffice, so don't be surprised to see examples that feature the likes of Sharks, Piranha, Eels sharks, piranhas, eels or even, in more fantastical settings, Sea Monsters.
{{Sea Monster}}s -- [[StockNessMonster Nessie lookalikes]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent water dragons]], and SeaSerpents are all known to turn up in this role.
A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile
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* ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'': Downplayed. In the "Sword in The Stone" the castle moat is ruled by an enormous and quite [[PikePeril vicious Pike]] who upon encountering the young Arthur (whom Merlin transformed into a fish at his request) argues MightMakesRight and that power is the only thing worth respecting before trying to eat him. Merlin intended the experience as a warning to Arthur about the dangers of absolute power and how it leads to tyrants.
* ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'': In "Marlfox", Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with [[PikePeril pike]] (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
* ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'': In "Marlfox", Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with [[PikePeril pike]] (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
to:
* ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'': Downplayed. In the "Sword 'The Sword in The Stone" the Stone'', the castle moat is ruled by an enormous and quite [[PikePeril vicious Pike]] who upon encountering the young Arthur (whom Merlin transformed into a fish at his request) argues MightMakesRight and that power is the only thing worth respecting before trying to eat him. Merlin intended the experience as a warning to Arthur about the dangers of absolute power and how it leads to tyrants.
*''{{Literature/Redwall}}'': ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'': In "Marlfox", ''Literature/{{Marlfox}}'', Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with [[PikePeril pike]] (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
*
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* ''VideoGame/JitsuSquad': The stage in Castle Hellstorm has a moat filled with skeletons and a StockNessMonster chilling out in the background as you make your way across the drawbridge fighting assorted enemies, but the monster is just part of some MonstrousScenery that doesn't interact with your characters. Maybe it's already full from eating too many unknown adventurers arriving before you...
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* ''VideoGame/JitsuSquad': ''VideoGame/JitsuSquad'': The stage in Castle Hellstorm has a moat filled with skeletons and a StockNessMonster chilling out in the background as you make your way across the drawbridge fighting assorted enemies, but the monster is just part of some MonstrousScenery that doesn't interact with your characters. Maybe it's already full from eating too many unknown adventurers arriving before you...
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* In ''VideoGame/TheTwistedTalesOfSpikeMcFang'', there's a friendly, [[StochNessMonster vaguely-plesiosauroid]] monster in the moat of Spike's family castle. His name is Sid.
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* In ''VideoGame/TheTwistedTalesOfSpikeMcFang'', there's a friendly, [[StochNessMonster [[StockNessMonster vaguely-plesiosauroid]] monster in the moat of Spike's family castle. His name is Sid.
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* In ''VideoGame/TheTwistedTalesOfSpikeMcFang'', there's a friendly, [[StochNessMonster vaguely-plesiosauroid]] monster in the moat of Spike's family castle. His name is Sid.
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lk fix
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* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Vector, Gru's nemesis, keeps what appears to be a very large, toothy, man-eating shark in the moat around his enormous home/headquarters. The Shark viciously mauls Gru during one of his [[FailureMontage many failed attempts to to break in]]. Subverted in the climax when it jumps up to attack Gru when he tries again, where now running on full PapaWolf mode he [[OffHandBackHand punches it out with one fist while not even looking at it]].
to:
* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1'': Vector, Gru's nemesis, keeps what appears to be a very large, toothy, man-eating shark in the moat around his enormous home/headquarters. The Shark viciously mauls Gru during one of his [[FailureMontage many failed attempts to to break in]]. Subverted in the climax when it jumps up to attack Gru when he tries again, where now running on full PapaWolf mode he [[OffHandBackHand punches it out with one fist while not even looking at it]].
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TLP cleanup
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* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': One issue involves the two agents falling into a dry moat and Filemon is relieved because no water means no [[Main/ThreateningShark sharks]]. Only for Mortadelo to explain to him that it´s more practical for a moat to have crocodiles... just like the really big and hungry one he is pointing at.
to:
* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': One issue involves the two agents falling into a dry moat and Filemon is relieved because no water means no [[Main/ThreateningShark sharks]]. Only for Mortadelo to explain to him that it´s it's more practical for a moat to have crocodiles... just like the really big and hungry one he is pointing at.
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!!Indices: CastleTropes, ImageSource.ComicStrips, IndexOfFictionalCreatures, InstantIndexJustAddWater, OlderThanSteam, QuoteSource.DisneyAnimatedCanon
!!Indices: CastleTropes, ImageSource.ComicStrips, IndexOfFictionalCreatures, InstantIndexJustAddWater, OlderThanSteam, QuoteSource.DisneyAnimatedCanon
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!!Indices: CastleTropes, ImageSource.ComicStrips, IndexOfFictionalCreatures, InstantIndexJustAddWater, OlderThanSteam, QuoteSource.DisneyAnimatedCanon
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%% This example list has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in correct alphabetical order.
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[[quoteright:350:[[ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wizard_of_id_moat_monster.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Some may be more monstrous than others.]]
->''"What in thunder is a monster like ''that'' doing in the moat?! By George, I'll turn him into a minnow!"''
-->-- '''Merlin''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone''
A fortress' most fundamental purpose is defence, so logically the more defences it has the better. So you've got [[BigFancyCastle your towering citadel]], your [[CitadelCity great impenetrable walls stretching around the entire settlement]], your [[CityGuards mighty army of loyal defenders]] ready to man the walls, your drawbridge, portcullis and naturally your vast deep moat. What else can you add to be absolutely sure your fortress is impenetrable?
Simple fill the moat with ferocious man-eating beasts. A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]].
However, other dangerous aquatic and semi-aquatic predators will easily suffice. So don't be surprised to see examples that feature the likes of Sharks, Piranha, Eels or even, in more fantastical settings, Sea Monsters.
After all, what [[StormingTheCastle invading army will dare try to cross the waters to storm the walls]] if there is a danger of them being devoured alive by a gigantic beast? And who would [[TheSiege dare risk camping on the banks in a hope to starve you out]] if they could risk being eaten whilst they slumber?
Likewise even if not for defence, having a giant moat full of beasties [[WallsOfTyranny also provides a nice deterrent for anyone who desires to escape the walls]]. And it also provides your average tyrant with an epic manner of publicly executing any unwanted dissidents, incompetent minions or pesky heroes.
Don't expect anyone to question the logistics of how the arrangement works, or even, as most Medieval castles were built in Europe, [[MisplacedWildlife where all the animals even came from]]. Likewise the dangers of the beasts getting into your city or trying to eat the inhabitants never seems to come up despite the natural assumption that it should. But hey, it can't be denied the idea of having a moat filled with man-eating monsters [[RuleOfCool is really cool and makes a great visual spectacle]].
Needless to say this was not TruthInTelevision. There is no historical evidence of any castle deliberately putting beasties, especially crocodiles, in their moat as an extra layer of defence (especially as most moats weren't even filled with water due to the difficulties and expense of building artificial waterways at the time). [[NewerThanTheyThink Legends of them doing so seem to date no further back than the 19th century.]]
Compare with SharkPool, which is a similar idea but designed specifically for execution rather than defense.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': One issue involves the two agents falling into a dry moat and Filemon is relieved because no water means no [[Main/ThreateningShark sharks]]. Only for Mortadelo to explain to him that it´s more practical for a moat to have crocodiles... just like the really big and hungry one he is pointing at.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'': Parodied. One cartoon features HornyVikings storming into a castle. As they cross the drawbridge, one soldier in particular looks down to see what's in the moat, and shouts "Ooh! Goldfish, everyone!"
* ''ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId'':
** The strip features a moat around the castle which is filled with {{Stock Ness Monster}}s. The King has at various times either [[FluffyTamer regarded them as pets]], or presented the moat itself as a FantasticNatureReserve.
** One strip showed a sign next to the moat reading "beware of frogs" and two kids laughing at it, until a giant frog's tongue shot out and snapped up one of the kids.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/LearningHowToBeAPrincess'': Discussed. After finding his castle in ruins at the end of [[Recap/LearningHowToBeAPrincessChapter14LuzsMovingHasselPart2 Chapter 14]], Emperor Belos humours the idea of replacing the spiked-moat with a water-moat. When Camila mentions that most witches being able to fly would make such a thing pointless, he remarks that it wouldn't if he had a Sea Serpent swimming in it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Film -- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Vector, Gru's nemesis, keeps what appears to be a very large, toothy, man-eating shark in the moat around his enormous home/headquarters. The Shark viciously mauls Gru during one of his [[FailureMontage many failed attempts to to break in]]. Subverted in the climax when it jumps up to attack Gru when he tries again, where now running on full PapaWolf mode he [[OffHandBackHand punches it out with one fist while not even looking at it]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'': The entrance to Yzma's secret lab, located inside the royal palace, has a lever that activates a trapdoor, sending the person on the trapdoor into some sort of body of water with alligators. [[NothingIsFunnier We don't see where exactly Yzma and Kuzco go]] when this happens to them, only that they walk back in with [[ClingyAquaticLife an alligator biting their clothes]]. This gag was occasionally brought back during [[WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewSchool the series]] despite the change of location to Kuzco Academy.
* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'':
** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheReluctantWerewolf'': Dracula's Castle moat has at least one crocodile. It proceeds to foil Shaggy and Scooby's attempt to escape the castle with a BedsheetLadder, although Scooby [[DelayedOhCrap doesn't notice until he's already climbed down into its mouth without knowing it was there]].
** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool'' has the eponymous location surrounded by a moat inhabited by a two-headed ThreateningShark.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess'': There are crocodiles in the moat of [[EvilSorcerer Rothbart's]] castle, which Lt. Puffin, Speed the turtle, and Jean-Bob the frog have to evade in order to [[spoiler: rescue Odette]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'': The moat of Sir Ector's castle is inhabited by an enormous and very aggressive [[PikePeril pike]]. Merlin, having transformed himself and Arthur into small fish to explore the moat, initially uses it to teach Arthur a lesson on out-thinking his opponents, but [[SuperPersistentPredator when the pike doesn't take the hint]], Arthur ends up having to be plucked out of the water entirely by Archimedes the owl. It's a downplayed example, though, since the pike is only dangerous to Arthur in his fish form.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheCityOfBrass'': PlayedWith. The djinn's capital city is in the middle of a lake of MurderWater that tears apart anyone who so much as dips a toe in. They use it as a defensive feature (and for executions), but it originated in a {{Curse}} against them by the [[MakingASplash marid]], from whom they stole the lake.
* ''Literature/TheFellowshipOfTheRing'': The Watcher in the Water is a TentacledTerror that lives in the lake adjacent to the western entrance to Moria, which was created by the dwarves damming the Sirannon River and leaves only a narrow path to the doorway. Like the balrog Durin's Bane, the Watcher is believed to have emerged from underground waterways in the depths of Moria's mines after the dwarves DugTooDeep, but unlike the balrog is not thought to have any connection to either [[{{Satan}} Morgoth]] or [[EvilOverlord Sauron]].
* ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'': Downplayed. In the "Sword in The Stone" the castle moat is ruled by an enormous and quite [[PikePeril vicious Pike]] who upon encountering the young Arthur (whom Merlin transformed into a fish at his request) argues MightMakesRight and that power is the only thing worth respecting before trying to eat him. Merlin intended the experience as a warning to Arthur about the dangers of absolute power and how it leads to tyrants.
* ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'': In "Marlfox", Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with [[PikePeril pike]] (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
* ''Literature/TheWizardTheWitchAndTwoGirlsFromJersey'': The Fragile Hag's tower is guarded by the Moat Beast, a huge apelike creature who feeds on the garbage thrown into the moat. He's chained up, but the chains [[NoOntologicalInertia break when the Fragile Hag dies]], freeing the Moat Beast.
* ''Literature/WorldOfTiers'': A castle in the Dracheland tier is described as having a river dragon living in its moat.
* ''Yulianna, or Dangerous Games'' by Yulia Voznesenskaya: The magical BoardingSchoolOfHorrors is surrounded by a moat inhabited by lamias (half-snake, half-woman creatures). The protagonists barely manage to escape them when they flee the school.
* ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'':
** The moat at Castle Roogna contains moat-monsters which generally sound like sea-serpents or something similar.
** Good Magician Humfrey's castle sometimes has a moat-monster, but not always, and what kind of monster it is changes frequently.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TheBlackCauldron'': The Horned King's castle is surrounded by a vast moat filled with massive crocodiles. To get past them you have to swim through the moat and then scale the wall.
* ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'': In the first level, Dirk falls through the drawbridge of Scorch's castle and is almost captured by a bizarre tentacled creature in the moat.
* ''VideoGame/{{Drakkhen}}'' will add a shark to the moat of one of the dragon princes after enough time has passed. If your characters walk on the drawbridge at the wrong time, the shark will leap out of the moat to bite them, and it's a OneHitKill on that character. [[spoiler:It also shows that the dragon prince is far more paranoid about your presence than he lets on, which foreshadows his eventual FaceHeelTurn.]]
* ''VideoGame/JitsuSquad': The stage in Castle Hellstorm has a moat filled with skeletons and a StockNessMonster chilling out in the background as you make your way across the drawbridge fighting assorted enemies, but the monster is just part of some MonstrousScenery that doesn't interact with your characters. Maybe it's already full from eating too many unknown adventurers arriving before you...
* ''VideoGame/KingsQuestIQuestForTheCrown'': In the original version, Castle Daventry has a crocodile-filled moat. In the remake, instead they have the serpentine "moat monsters" who fulfil the same role.
* ''VideoGame/MetalSlugCodeJ'': In the inner sanctum of the pyramids, after getting pass the Sphinx boss, the next area is a moat guarded by Apep, a giant serpent boss, where the player has to cross the moat's surface on rock platforms while avoiding Apep's attacks from below and battling Apep. Once Apep's health is depleted it then swims away, never to be seen again.
* ''VideoGame/TheWackyWorldOfMiniatureGolf'': In the Medieval stage, the hole is inside a castle. The first obstacle for the player is a moat full of sharks, that ''will'' eat the ball if they catch it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'': The vampires in Level 6 have recruited lots of monstrous minions to guard their castle, [[https://rustyandco.com/comic/level-6-17/ including]] a {{Kraken|AndLeviathan}} in the moat. However, it's [[ItCanThink intelligent]] and unhappy to be stuck there, so it decides to let the heroes in.
-->'''Kraken:''' I mean, does this look right to you? It's not even a saltwater moat! ''[sniffle]''
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': In "Escape From Goochland", the fight between Cleveland and Chet Butler leads to the bridge over Stoolbend's riverway, that in addition to being severely polluted, as Goochland's propaganda says, also houses a [[TentacledTerror giant tentacled fish-like monster]] that eats Chet when he tries to kill Cleveland Jr. [[LampshadeHanging Cleveland offhandedly mentions that nobody knows what said monster even is]].
* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'': PlayedForLaughs in "[[Recap/CourageTheCowardlyDogS2E14TheMagicTreeOfNowhereRobotRandy The Magic Tree of Nowhere]]". Courage tries to protect the eponymous tree from being chopped down by Eustace by building a defensive fortress around it, which includes digging a moat and filling it with water. He then pours a bag of "Instant Eel" powder into the water, which creates a big, green, ferocious eel monster. The Instant Eel is twice shown [[RuleOfFunny stopping to sing a few lyrics from the classic Irish folk song "Danny Boy"]] (even joining with Eustace for a duet at one point), before he resumes acting as a ferocious guard beast (and mauling Eustace again).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'': In TheStinger of "[[Recap/TheLooneyTunesShowS2E22GossamerIsAwesomer Gossamer is Awesomer]]", Speedy attempts to expand his restaurant business by opening one that is designed to look like a medieval castle in Cincinnati, Ohio. His grand opening fails due to Porky Pig (his hired designer) having [[DidntThinkThisThrough real crocodiles placed in the moat]] for historical authenticity, unbeknownst to him. The crocodiles proceed [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome to attack his would-be customers, driving everyone away]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewScoobyDooMovies'': Invoked in "[[Recap/TheNewScoobyDooMoviesS1E13TheHauntedHorsemanOfHagglethornHall The Haunted Horseman of Hagglethorn Hall]]". In addition to the eponymous horseman, there was a giant frog-like creature in the moat, aptly referred to as The Moat Monster. Naturally, it's all part of a ScoobyDooHoax.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'': In "Pink Plasma", Little Man Dracula spends most of the episode trying to attack Pink, but invariably falls in the moat and is persecuted by a shark that breathes out of the water and [[TailfinWalking runs with its tail-fin]]. In the end, the vampire sneaks into the room where Pink is (apparently) sleeping, but the panther pulls down a curtain with the sun painted on it, making Dracula run back to his coffin in panic... only to find the shark waiting for him. They disappear when the sun rises, along with Dracula's castle and the monster that decided to run after Pink ForTheEvulz.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': In "[[Recap/RenAndStimpy1x02RobinHoekNurseStimpy Robin Hoek]]", Stimpy's story has Robin Hoek (Ren) storming the Sheriff of Dodge City's castle and swimming through a moat that's filled with man-eating monks.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Discussed in "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS2E1FullDisclosure Full Disclosure]]". When the Crystal Gems are discussing ways to keep people off the beach, Amethyst proposes building a moat, with herself shapeshifted into a crocodile. The others shoot that idea down -- [[NoodleIncident apparently they've tried it multiple times in the past, but Amethyst never commits to it]].
* ''WesternAnimation/YippeeYappeeAndYahooey'': The short "Black Bart" ends with the King, fed up with the trio's incompetence, throwing them into the moat and siccing his three alligators on them ("There's one for each of you!").
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Real Life]]
* The story of medieval castle moats being filled with crocodiles most likely originates from the Neapolitan legend of "Coccodrillo di Castelnuovo".
** Legend has it that in 15th century the Guards of Castle Maschio Angioino came to notice that prisoners trapped within the castigate were disappearing, but despite their best efforts they could could not figure out how escape was possible as the castle's moat was under sea level. Then one day they witnessed a giant crocodile emerging from a hidden hole in the moat and dragging the terrified prisoner in his jaws out to sea to eat. Rather than kill the beast, the guards instead made it an "executioner of Justice" and would put condemned prisoners in the cell for the beast to devour. This carried on until one day the crocodile got too greedy and tried to devour an entire horse that was drinking from the moat, and choked to death. The beast is generally agreed to have been a Nile crocodile that arrived from Egypt but how it got Naples differs from legend to legend.
** According to another version of the legend, the crocodile was specifically smuggled to the country by none other than Queen Jonna II of Naples, who it is said delighted in [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen feeding it her lovers once she grew bored with them]].
* Krumlov Castle in the modern day Czech Republic famously has had a Bear Moat since at least 1707, where live bears were kept inside the giant moat located between the castle's first and second courtyard. Though whether they were for defence or simply a sign of status is unknown. To this day (with interruptions at the beginning and the end of the 19th century) there is at least one bear at the castle, with bear celebrations being held each Christmas and it being traditional for the nearby children to bring the bears gifts on their birthdays.
* According to some records, during the late 16th century, Wilhelm V, the Prince Regent of Bavaria, kept lions and a leopard in the moat at Trausnitz Castle whilst he lived there. Although the animals were more for status and existed more akin to a spectacle for his guests and servants to admire than any form of defence.
* In modern times, the owners of Caerphilly Castle in Wales have started [[https://caerphilly.observer/news/636707/monster-in-caerphilly-castle-moat-causes-a-stir/ decorating the moat (and grounds) with statues of dragons and various other monsters]] made by local pop artist Barry Lewis.
[[/folder]]
----
!!Indices: CastleTropes, ImageSource.ComicStrips, IndexOfFictionalCreatures, InstantIndexJustAddWater, OlderThanSteam, QuoteSource.DisneyAnimatedCanon
%%
%% This example list has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in correct alphabetical order.
%%
%%
[[quoteright:350:[[ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wizard_of_id_moat_monster.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Some may be more monstrous than others.]]
->''"What in thunder is a monster like ''that'' doing in the moat?! By George, I'll turn him into a minnow!"''
-->-- '''Merlin''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone''
A fortress' most fundamental purpose is defence, so logically the more defences it has the better. So you've got [[BigFancyCastle your towering citadel]], your [[CitadelCity great impenetrable walls stretching around the entire settlement]], your [[CityGuards mighty army of loyal defenders]] ready to man the walls, your drawbridge, portcullis and naturally your vast deep moat. What else can you add to be absolutely sure your fortress is impenetrable?
Simple fill the moat with ferocious man-eating beasts. A particular favourite in fiction (though seemingly with no basis in reality) is the idea of a moat that is infested with [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]].
However, other dangerous aquatic and semi-aquatic predators will easily suffice. So don't be surprised to see examples that feature the likes of Sharks, Piranha, Eels or even, in more fantastical settings, Sea Monsters.
After all, what [[StormingTheCastle invading army will dare try to cross the waters to storm the walls]] if there is a danger of them being devoured alive by a gigantic beast? And who would [[TheSiege dare risk camping on the banks in a hope to starve you out]] if they could risk being eaten whilst they slumber?
Likewise even if not for defence, having a giant moat full of beasties [[WallsOfTyranny also provides a nice deterrent for anyone who desires to escape the walls]]. And it also provides your average tyrant with an epic manner of publicly executing any unwanted dissidents, incompetent minions or pesky heroes.
Don't expect anyone to question the logistics of how the arrangement works, or even, as most Medieval castles were built in Europe, [[MisplacedWildlife where all the animals even came from]]. Likewise the dangers of the beasts getting into your city or trying to eat the inhabitants never seems to come up despite the natural assumption that it should. But hey, it can't be denied the idea of having a moat filled with man-eating monsters [[RuleOfCool is really cool and makes a great visual spectacle]].
Needless to say this was not TruthInTelevision. There is no historical evidence of any castle deliberately putting beasties, especially crocodiles, in their moat as an extra layer of defence (especially as most moats weren't even filled with water due to the difficulties and expense of building artificial waterways at the time). [[NewerThanTheyThink Legends of them doing so seem to date no further back than the 19th century.]]
Compare with SharkPool, which is a similar idea but designed specifically for execution rather than defense.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': One issue involves the two agents falling into a dry moat and Filemon is relieved because no water means no [[Main/ThreateningShark sharks]]. Only for Mortadelo to explain to him that it´s more practical for a moat to have crocodiles... just like the really big and hungry one he is pointing at.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'': Parodied. One cartoon features HornyVikings storming into a castle. As they cross the drawbridge, one soldier in particular looks down to see what's in the moat, and shouts "Ooh! Goldfish, everyone!"
* ''ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId'':
** The strip features a moat around the castle which is filled with {{Stock Ness Monster}}s. The King has at various times either [[FluffyTamer regarded them as pets]], or presented the moat itself as a FantasticNatureReserve.
** One strip showed a sign next to the moat reading "beware of frogs" and two kids laughing at it, until a giant frog's tongue shot out and snapped up one of the kids.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/LearningHowToBeAPrincess'': Discussed. After finding his castle in ruins at the end of [[Recap/LearningHowToBeAPrincessChapter14LuzsMovingHasselPart2 Chapter 14]], Emperor Belos humours the idea of replacing the spiked-moat with a water-moat. When Camila mentions that most witches being able to fly would make such a thing pointless, he remarks that it wouldn't if he had a Sea Serpent swimming in it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Film -- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Vector, Gru's nemesis, keeps what appears to be a very large, toothy, man-eating shark in the moat around his enormous home/headquarters. The Shark viciously mauls Gru during one of his [[FailureMontage many failed attempts to to break in]]. Subverted in the climax when it jumps up to attack Gru when he tries again, where now running on full PapaWolf mode he [[OffHandBackHand punches it out with one fist while not even looking at it]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'': The entrance to Yzma's secret lab, located inside the royal palace, has a lever that activates a trapdoor, sending the person on the trapdoor into some sort of body of water with alligators. [[NothingIsFunnier We don't see where exactly Yzma and Kuzco go]] when this happens to them, only that they walk back in with [[ClingyAquaticLife an alligator biting their clothes]]. This gag was occasionally brought back during [[WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewSchool the series]] despite the change of location to Kuzco Academy.
* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'':
** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheReluctantWerewolf'': Dracula's Castle moat has at least one crocodile. It proceeds to foil Shaggy and Scooby's attempt to escape the castle with a BedsheetLadder, although Scooby [[DelayedOhCrap doesn't notice until he's already climbed down into its mouth without knowing it was there]].
** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool'' has the eponymous location surrounded by a moat inhabited by a two-headed ThreateningShark.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess'': There are crocodiles in the moat of [[EvilSorcerer Rothbart's]] castle, which Lt. Puffin, Speed the turtle, and Jean-Bob the frog have to evade in order to [[spoiler: rescue Odette]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'': The moat of Sir Ector's castle is inhabited by an enormous and very aggressive [[PikePeril pike]]. Merlin, having transformed himself and Arthur into small fish to explore the moat, initially uses it to teach Arthur a lesson on out-thinking his opponents, but [[SuperPersistentPredator when the pike doesn't take the hint]], Arthur ends up having to be plucked out of the water entirely by Archimedes the owl. It's a downplayed example, though, since the pike is only dangerous to Arthur in his fish form.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheCityOfBrass'': PlayedWith. The djinn's capital city is in the middle of a lake of MurderWater that tears apart anyone who so much as dips a toe in. They use it as a defensive feature (and for executions), but it originated in a {{Curse}} against them by the [[MakingASplash marid]], from whom they stole the lake.
* ''Literature/TheFellowshipOfTheRing'': The Watcher in the Water is a TentacledTerror that lives in the lake adjacent to the western entrance to Moria, which was created by the dwarves damming the Sirannon River and leaves only a narrow path to the doorway. Like the balrog Durin's Bane, the Watcher is believed to have emerged from underground waterways in the depths of Moria's mines after the dwarves DugTooDeep, but unlike the balrog is not thought to have any connection to either [[{{Satan}} Morgoth]] or [[EvilOverlord Sauron]].
* ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'': Downplayed. In the "Sword in The Stone" the castle moat is ruled by an enormous and quite [[PikePeril vicious Pike]] who upon encountering the young Arthur (whom Merlin transformed into a fish at his request) argues MightMakesRight and that power is the only thing worth respecting before trying to eat him. Merlin intended the experience as a warning to Arthur about the dangers of absolute power and how it leads to tyrants.
* ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'': In "Marlfox", Castle Marl is built on an island in the middle of a vast lake whose waters are infested with [[PikePeril pike]] (known locally as the [[TheDreaded Teeth of the Deeps]]). The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Marlfoxes]] tend to punish failure in their underlings by throwing them in the lake, and the last Marlfox is EatenAlive when a slave knocks him off the boat he was escaping in.
* ''Literature/TheWizardTheWitchAndTwoGirlsFromJersey'': The Fragile Hag's tower is guarded by the Moat Beast, a huge apelike creature who feeds on the garbage thrown into the moat. He's chained up, but the chains [[NoOntologicalInertia break when the Fragile Hag dies]], freeing the Moat Beast.
* ''Literature/WorldOfTiers'': A castle in the Dracheland tier is described as having a river dragon living in its moat.
* ''Yulianna, or Dangerous Games'' by Yulia Voznesenskaya: The magical BoardingSchoolOfHorrors is surrounded by a moat inhabited by lamias (half-snake, half-woman creatures). The protagonists barely manage to escape them when they flee the school.
* ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'':
** The moat at Castle Roogna contains moat-monsters which generally sound like sea-serpents or something similar.
** Good Magician Humfrey's castle sometimes has a moat-monster, but not always, and what kind of monster it is changes frequently.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TheBlackCauldron'': The Horned King's castle is surrounded by a vast moat filled with massive crocodiles. To get past them you have to swim through the moat and then scale the wall.
* ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'': In the first level, Dirk falls through the drawbridge of Scorch's castle and is almost captured by a bizarre tentacled creature in the moat.
* ''VideoGame/{{Drakkhen}}'' will add a shark to the moat of one of the dragon princes after enough time has passed. If your characters walk on the drawbridge at the wrong time, the shark will leap out of the moat to bite them, and it's a OneHitKill on that character. [[spoiler:It also shows that the dragon prince is far more paranoid about your presence than he lets on, which foreshadows his eventual FaceHeelTurn.]]
* ''VideoGame/JitsuSquad': The stage in Castle Hellstorm has a moat filled with skeletons and a StockNessMonster chilling out in the background as you make your way across the drawbridge fighting assorted enemies, but the monster is just part of some MonstrousScenery that doesn't interact with your characters. Maybe it's already full from eating too many unknown adventurers arriving before you...
* ''VideoGame/KingsQuestIQuestForTheCrown'': In the original version, Castle Daventry has a crocodile-filled moat. In the remake, instead they have the serpentine "moat monsters" who fulfil the same role.
* ''VideoGame/MetalSlugCodeJ'': In the inner sanctum of the pyramids, after getting pass the Sphinx boss, the next area is a moat guarded by Apep, a giant serpent boss, where the player has to cross the moat's surface on rock platforms while avoiding Apep's attacks from below and battling Apep. Once Apep's health is depleted it then swims away, never to be seen again.
* ''VideoGame/TheWackyWorldOfMiniatureGolf'': In the Medieval stage, the hole is inside a castle. The first obstacle for the player is a moat full of sharks, that ''will'' eat the ball if they catch it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'': The vampires in Level 6 have recruited lots of monstrous minions to guard their castle, [[https://rustyandco.com/comic/level-6-17/ including]] a {{Kraken|AndLeviathan}} in the moat. However, it's [[ItCanThink intelligent]] and unhappy to be stuck there, so it decides to let the heroes in.
-->'''Kraken:''' I mean, does this look right to you? It's not even a saltwater moat! ''[sniffle]''
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': In "Escape From Goochland", the fight between Cleveland and Chet Butler leads to the bridge over Stoolbend's riverway, that in addition to being severely polluted, as Goochland's propaganda says, also houses a [[TentacledTerror giant tentacled fish-like monster]] that eats Chet when he tries to kill Cleveland Jr. [[LampshadeHanging Cleveland offhandedly mentions that nobody knows what said monster even is]].
* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'': PlayedForLaughs in "[[Recap/CourageTheCowardlyDogS2E14TheMagicTreeOfNowhereRobotRandy The Magic Tree of Nowhere]]". Courage tries to protect the eponymous tree from being chopped down by Eustace by building a defensive fortress around it, which includes digging a moat and filling it with water. He then pours a bag of "Instant Eel" powder into the water, which creates a big, green, ferocious eel monster. The Instant Eel is twice shown [[RuleOfFunny stopping to sing a few lyrics from the classic Irish folk song "Danny Boy"]] (even joining with Eustace for a duet at one point), before he resumes acting as a ferocious guard beast (and mauling Eustace again).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'': In TheStinger of "[[Recap/TheLooneyTunesShowS2E22GossamerIsAwesomer Gossamer is Awesomer]]", Speedy attempts to expand his restaurant business by opening one that is designed to look like a medieval castle in Cincinnati, Ohio. His grand opening fails due to Porky Pig (his hired designer) having [[DidntThinkThisThrough real crocodiles placed in the moat]] for historical authenticity, unbeknownst to him. The crocodiles proceed [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome to attack his would-be customers, driving everyone away]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewScoobyDooMovies'': Invoked in "[[Recap/TheNewScoobyDooMoviesS1E13TheHauntedHorsemanOfHagglethornHall The Haunted Horseman of Hagglethorn Hall]]". In addition to the eponymous horseman, there was a giant frog-like creature in the moat, aptly referred to as The Moat Monster. Naturally, it's all part of a ScoobyDooHoax.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'': In "Pink Plasma", Little Man Dracula spends most of the episode trying to attack Pink, but invariably falls in the moat and is persecuted by a shark that breathes out of the water and [[TailfinWalking runs with its tail-fin]]. In the end, the vampire sneaks into the room where Pink is (apparently) sleeping, but the panther pulls down a curtain with the sun painted on it, making Dracula run back to his coffin in panic... only to find the shark waiting for him. They disappear when the sun rises, along with Dracula's castle and the monster that decided to run after Pink ForTheEvulz.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': In "[[Recap/RenAndStimpy1x02RobinHoekNurseStimpy Robin Hoek]]", Stimpy's story has Robin Hoek (Ren) storming the Sheriff of Dodge City's castle and swimming through a moat that's filled with man-eating monks.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Discussed in "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS2E1FullDisclosure Full Disclosure]]". When the Crystal Gems are discussing ways to keep people off the beach, Amethyst proposes building a moat, with herself shapeshifted into a crocodile. The others shoot that idea down -- [[NoodleIncident apparently they've tried it multiple times in the past, but Amethyst never commits to it]].
* ''WesternAnimation/YippeeYappeeAndYahooey'': The short "Black Bart" ends with the King, fed up with the trio's incompetence, throwing them into the moat and siccing his three alligators on them ("There's one for each of you!").
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Real Life]]
* The story of medieval castle moats being filled with crocodiles most likely originates from the Neapolitan legend of "Coccodrillo di Castelnuovo".
** Legend has it that in 15th century the Guards of Castle Maschio Angioino came to notice that prisoners trapped within the castigate were disappearing, but despite their best efforts they could could not figure out how escape was possible as the castle's moat was under sea level. Then one day they witnessed a giant crocodile emerging from a hidden hole in the moat and dragging the terrified prisoner in his jaws out to sea to eat. Rather than kill the beast, the guards instead made it an "executioner of Justice" and would put condemned prisoners in the cell for the beast to devour. This carried on until one day the crocodile got too greedy and tried to devour an entire horse that was drinking from the moat, and choked to death. The beast is generally agreed to have been a Nile crocodile that arrived from Egypt but how it got Naples differs from legend to legend.
** According to another version of the legend, the crocodile was specifically smuggled to the country by none other than Queen Jonna II of Naples, who it is said delighted in [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen feeding it her lovers once she grew bored with them]].
* Krumlov Castle in the modern day Czech Republic famously has had a Bear Moat since at least 1707, where live bears were kept inside the giant moat located between the castle's first and second courtyard. Though whether they were for defence or simply a sign of status is unknown. To this day (with interruptions at the beginning and the end of the 19th century) there is at least one bear at the castle, with bear celebrations being held each Christmas and it being traditional for the nearby children to bring the bears gifts on their birthdays.
* According to some records, during the late 16th century, Wilhelm V, the Prince Regent of Bavaria, kept lions and a leopard in the moat at Trausnitz Castle whilst he lived there. Although the animals were more for status and existed more akin to a spectacle for his guests and servants to admire than any form of defence.
* In modern times, the owners of Caerphilly Castle in Wales have started [[https://caerphilly.observer/news/636707/monster-in-caerphilly-castle-moat-causes-a-stir/ decorating the moat (and grounds) with statues of dragons and various other monsters]] made by local pop artist Barry Lewis.
[[/folder]]
----
!!Indices: CastleTropes, ImageSource.ComicStrips, IndexOfFictionalCreatures, InstantIndexJustAddWater, OlderThanSteam, QuoteSource.DisneyAnimatedCanon
