Cryptid

{{Cryptid}}
A '''cryptid''' or '''UMA''' (Unidentified Mysterious Animal) is an animal claimed to exist, but for which there is no type specimen or formal description. The claims can be made either by [[cryptozoology|cryptozoologists]] (people who attempt to use scientific methods to discover such creatures), or by people who think they saw a strange creature. These days you can find all manner of "evidence" for any creature under the sun by tuning into the [[History Channel]] or your local kook's [[Youtube]] channel.

==Well-known cryptids==
{{See also|Cryptozoology#Examples_of_famous_cryptids|Examples of famous cryptids}}
Cryptids are reported from many parts of the world, but some have achieved worldwide fame despite, or perhaps because of, consistent lack of proof of their existence. These include:
*Bipedal, ape-like creatures such as [[Bigfoot]], Sasquatch, [[Yeti]], [[skunk ape]], etc, commonly spotted in forests and wildernesses. A variant is found in cities, such as [[The Monkey Man of Delhi]] and [[Spring Heeled Jack]] (unless it was a man in a bat suit).
*Large, often long-necked creatures reported from lakes, rivers, or the [[Sea serpent|open sea]]; examples include the [[Loch Ness Monster]] and [[Bunyip]].
*Mysterious animals which attack livestock or even humans, such as the [[Chupacabra]] and [[Australia#Mammals|Drop Bear]].
*Ugly flying creatures such as the [[Jersey Devil]] and [[Mothman]]
*Animals occurring far outside their usual range, such as [[Phantom cats|alien big cats]] in the United Kingdom.
*Creatures generally considered to be extinct but for which claims of survival, and possible sightings, are made; examples include the [[Thylacine|thylacine]] and the {{wpl|Ivory-billed_woodpecker|ivory-billed woodpecker}}.
*Creatures of which the existence has not been proven but which are said to have descended from existence-proven creatures that are extinct, such as the {{wpl|Cadborosaurus_willsi|cadborosaurus}}, which is said to be a descendent of the plesiosaur.

Mythical beasts such as [[dragon]]s or unicorns are ''not'' cryptids — nobody who isn't batshit crazy still seriously claims that they exist.

==Ex-cryptids==
{{See also|Cryptozoology#Examples_of_non-famous_no-longer-cryptids|Examples of non-famous no-longer-cryptids}}
[[File:NHM Xanthopan morgani.jpg|thumb|right|165px|''Xanthopan morganii'']]
Via study and simple science, unknown creatures have often been inserted into mainstream science. Examples include

*Giant Squid
*Okapi
*[[Platypus]] (assumed to be a fake when the first skins arrived in Britain)
*Komodo Dragon
*''{{wpl|Xanthopan morganii}}'', a moth with a 12-inch tongue, as predicted (by [[Charles Darwin]]) with the Comet Orchid in Madagascar.

==Cryptids and creationism==
[[File:Ascension Frigatebird.jpg|thumb|left|It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a ropen! Nope: it's a frigatebird.]]
Some [[creationist]]s state that reports of surviving [[Conservapedia:Dinosaur|dinosaur]]-like creatures in remote parts of the world disprove [[evolution]] and prove a [[young earth]] (for example, the [[bunyip]] or the [[Mokele-mbembe]]). There is even a website devoted to this topic: ''[[Genesis Park]].''

Creationist "forensic videographer"<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669608/posts Pterosaur-like Creatures Reported in Papua New Guinea]</ref> Jonathan Whitcomb tried to convince people that there were still living pterosaurs in [[Papua New Guinea]] in his book <i>Searching for Ropens</i> and his less-disingenuously titled sequel <i>Searching for Ropens and Finding [[God]]</i>. He offered, by way of evidence, some local [[mythology]] and blurry photos and video of what is likely a frigatebird.<ref>[http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dont-get-strung-along-by-the-ropen-myth-78644354 Don't Get Strung Along by the "Ropen" Myth]</ref>

Why surviving [[dinosaur]]s would disprove evolution (when known Mesozoic survivals such as magnolias, sharks and crocodilians do not) is not adequately explained. Hint to creationists: dinosaurs actually survived the Mesozoic, they're called [[birds]].

==See also==
*[[Chupacabra]]
*[[Ameranthropoides loysi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Cryptozoology]]
[[Category:Myths and legends]]

Categories: Cryptozoology, Myths and legends