SPice for the Balrog-Wings Soup...(not seen this anywhere before)

[Lord of Angmar]

That is the most original theory I have heard in the Balrog debate in some time, Hot n' crispy. However, I agree with Saucepan Man about the improbability of a Fire Spirit taking on a form adapted to aquatic life. Also, the description of the wing-shadows of the Balrog in The Bridge of Khazad-dum would, in your theory, call for fins that were disproportionately large, when you consider the average sizes of marine creatures relative to their fin-sizes. Also, historically, it would have been of no advantage for the Balrogs to have fins. They presumably first took their fiery form in or near Utumno, a place where fins would probably be of little use. The Balrogs were captains of Morgoth's armies, marching with the infantry in all of the instances described in The Silmarillion. Fins would probably be a hindrance in battle (or, if not a hindrance, definitely not a help).

It is definitely a fun theory, though.

the Sadistic Biology Professor, Morgoth.

Heh heh.

-Angmar