Cryptozoology - Caveman's Nature Site Caveman's Nature Site ! Cryptozoology- Searching for Unknown or Thought to be Extinct Creatures ! Photo - Okapi > This Native to the Ituri Rainforest was once a Cryptid. Cryptozoology, from the Greek means "study of hidden animals". This refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven. This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs, animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and the Chupacabra. Included are strange creature sightings of wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats or "ABCs" (an initialism commonly used by cryptozoologists that stands for Alien Big Cats). The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983. Cryptozoologists are a specialized branch of monster hunters. Since their ultimate goal is to discover a new species of animal, a new subspecies or a thought to be extinct species, the science of cryptozoology is rooted in biology.

The more a creature shows evidence of being supernatural, the less likely it is that cryptozoologists would be interested in it. Not many cryptozoologists investigate the strangest things like ghostly demon cats, Mothman or werewolves. Ghost hunts are left to the paranormal investigators and a few fringe cryptozoologists. On the other hand, there are very few animals, however mythical they may be, that have never stirred the interest of a cryptozoologist. This is because perfectly real animals have often been obscured by so much folklore that they seemed ridiculous. Cryptozoologists look for creatures like sea serpents and the yeti, hoping to gather enough evidence to prove that these beings exist. They also look for more commonplace animals, such as the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, the Giant Vampire Bat, the Inflatable Hedgehog and the Pygmy Elephant. Although cryptozoology doesn't get much respect from other scientific disiplines, it has had some spectacular success stories, including the Pongo (now known as the Gorilla), the Okapi (an animal that looks like a cross between a giraffe and zebra), and the Coelacanth (a prehistoric fish thought to be extinct).

The Giant Squid, Spindlehorn and Hoan Kiem Turtle are other examples of still existing species that were brought to the attention of modern science but formerly thought to be cryptids. ↯↯↯>Below are Cryptozoology Animal Photos and Website Links<↯↯↯ "NOTE" -- Some of the animals in the photos are now proven to exist but others are still listed as Cryptids. ▼▼▼ Titles are Below Photos ▼▼▼ Rumor or Reality: The Creatures of Cryptozoology Rumor or Reality: The Creatures of Cryptozoology By Ker Than | December 21, 2010 11:59am ET MORE 1 of 12 Cryptids Cryptozoology is the study of animals that are rumored to exist. Such creatures are called "cryptids." Some, like the gorilla, giant squid and okapi, are no longer hearsay and legend but real creatures recognized by science. Others, like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster, continue to tempt the hopeful and the adventurous with the possibility of their existence. 2 of 12 Credit: Benjamin A. Sheppard, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Thylacine Also known as the Tasmanian tiger or wolf, the thylacine was a large meat-eating marsupial that lived in Australia. It had a long, stiff tail, dark stripes on its back and rump, and a pouch similar to other marsupials like the koala and kangaroo. It was driven to extinction by human activity and the introduction of wild dogs onto the Australian mainland. The last confirmed wild thylacine was spotted in Tasmania in 1932, while the last captive one died in Tasmania's Hobart Zoo in 1936. Though widely considered to be extinct, sightings of this strange creature do still occur occasionally. 3 of 12 Credit: Morgue File Okapi If giraffes and zebras could mate, their offspring would look like an Okapi. This strange looking creature has striped legs like a zebra but the face of a giraffe. Its neck is much shorter than a giraffe, but like its cousin, it has an extremely long tongue, which can reach lengths of up to 12 inches. The okapi can use this tongue to wash its own eyelids and ears.

Prior to 1901, okapis were known only to the people living in the Congo rain forest. 4 of 12 Credit: Kenneth Carpenter Loch Ness Monster The locals near Lake Ness (or "Loch" Ness in Scottish Gaelic) in northwestern Scotland affectionately refer to the mysterious creature rumored to be living in their waters as "Nessie." According to one popular hypothesis, Nessie is a plesiosaur , a large marine reptile that lived during the time of dinosaurs and which had a long neck and stubby, paddle-like fins. Similar creatures have been reported in other lakes around the world. 5 of 12 Credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service Ivory-billed woodpecker By the mid-1990s, the ivory-billed woodpecker was widely believed to be extinct due to decades of deforestation and hunting by collectors. It was rediscovered in 2004, when a bird enthusiast kayaking through waters in the woods of Arkansas reported seeing one alive. Researchers later obtained a video clip of the bird, as well as an audio recording of its call and the distinctive sound it makes when drilling wood.

6 of 12 Credit: De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust King cheetah Starting in 1926, people in Zimbabwe began spotting a cheetah with unusual markings. Instead of spots, this cheetah had large splotches like a leopard and black stripes down its back. People called the creature "king cheetah." Some thought it might be a leopard-cheetah hybrid or a new subspecies of cheetah. The mystery wasn't solved until 1981, when a king cheetah was born in the De Wildt Cheetah Center in South Africa. Analysis later revealed that the cheetah's markings were the result of a very rare genetic mutation. 7 of 12 Credit: National Geographic Society/ Peter Schouten Homo floresiensis Folktales from the Indonesian island of Flores tell of a mysterious race of little people called the "Ebu Gogo," who abducted children and spoke in murmurs. Scientists began to take the myths more seriously when in 2003, the remains of a new humanoid species called Homo floresiensis was discovered in caves on the island. Fossil dating suggests that H.

floresiensis may have lived alongside modern humans as recently as 12,000 years ago. However, since the discovery scientists have argued whether the specimen was a human with an abnormally small head or represents a new species in the human family tree. The diminutive creature [image] had a brain approximately one-third the size of modern adult humans. 8 of 12 Credit: Matt Friedman/University of Chicago Coelacanth In 1938, a South African museum curator was sorting through the local fishermen's daily catch and looking for unusual creatures when she spotted a coelacanth , an ancient fish thought to be extinct for millions of years and known only through fossils. As with many cryptids, the coelacanth was well known to local inhabitants, who called the fish "gombassa" or "mame." 9 of 12 Bigfoot Also known as Sasquatch , this famous cryptid is rumored to be a hairy, ape-like creature living in the backwoods of the United States and Canada. Bigfoot is said to have huge feet — up to 20 inches in length — stand between 7 to 10 feet tall, and to walk upright.

Some suspect that Bigfoot may be a living Gigantopithecus , a giant ape that died out 100,000 years ago. Mainstream scientists doubt such claims. 10 of 12 Credit: AP Photo Giant squid Giant squids can grow up to 43 feet in length and may have been one of the inspirations behind the kraken , a many-armed sea monster in Norwegian myth. In September 2005, Japanese researchers baited and filmed a live specimen in its natural ocean habitat for the first time. The creature struggled for four hours before finally breaking free, losing an 18-foot long arm in the process. 11 of 12 Credit: Morgue File Gorilla For centuries, westerners heard tales of a giant ape living in the jungles of Africa. The creature was called "enge-ena" by locals, and was rumored to be larger and stronger than a man. But it wasn't until 1847, when an American missionary managed to procure a skull and some bones of the creature that science was officially introduced to the western lowland gorilla .

12 of 12 Cryptozoology - Crystalinks Cryptozoology Cryptozoology (from Greek kryptos, "hidden" + zoology; literally, "study of hidden animals") refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven. This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and Chupacabra, and wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats or "ABCs" (an initialism commonly used by cryptozoologists that stands for Alien Big Cats). The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983. In the realms of pseudoscience, these cryptids may have their roots in otherworldly origins. Thursday August 4, 2011, the History Channel series Ancient Aliens presented an episode about the origins of mythological monsters and beasts. Were they part of alien biogenetic experiments? Do these creatures still exist in remote areas of the planet? Are they being created in labs today? Are they a result of toxins in soil and water?

As an ancient alien theorist , I believe the human race was created as part of a biogenetic experiment. It is a consciousness hologram set in place to study emotions. A list of Mythological creatures are depicted throughout the journey of humanity - so anything is possible in the projected illusion of reality . Cryptozoology is not a recognized branch of zoology or a discipline of science. It is an example of pseudoscience because it relies heavily upon anecdotal evidence, stories and alleged sightings. The term cryptozoology (adding the Greek prefix kryptos, or "hidden" to zoology to mean "the study of hidden animals") is often attributed to zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans. However, Heuvelmans himself in his book In the Wake of Sea Serpents attributes coinage of the term to the late Scottish explorer and adventurer Ivan T. Sanderson. Heuvelmans' 1955 book, On The Track of Unknown Animals traces the scholarly origins of the discipline to Anthonid Cornelis Oudemans and his 1892 study, The Great Sea Serpent. Loren Coleman, the modern popularizer of cryptozoology, has chronicled the history and personalities of the science in his books.

Another notable book was Willy Ley's Exotic Zoology (1959). Ley was best known for his books on rocketry and related topics, but he also wrote a number of books about animals. Exotic Zoology (which combined some of Ley's older writings with new ones) is of some interest to cryptozoology, as he discusses the Yeti and sea serpents, as well as reports of relict dinosaurs. The book's first section ("Myth?") entertains the possibility that some legendary creatures (like the sirrush, the unicorn or the cyclops) might be based on actual animals (or misinterpretation of animals and/or their remains). Heuvelmans argued that cryptozoology should be undertaken with scientific rigor, but also with an open-minded, interdisciplinary approach. He also stressed that attention should be given to local and folkloric sources regarding such creatures. While often layered in unlikely and fantastic elements, folktales may indeed contain grains of truth and important information regarding these animals. Some cryptozoologists align themselves with a more scientifically rigorous field like zoology, while others tend toward an anthropological slant or even a Fortean perspective.

Cryptozoology is often considered a pseudoscience by mainstream zoologists and biologists. Scientists have demonstrated that some creatures of mythology, legend or local folklore were rooted in real animals or phenomena. Thus, cryptozoologists hold that people should be open to the possibility that many more such animals exist. In the early days of western exploration of the world, many native tales of unknown animals were initially dismissed as mythology or superstition by western scientists, but were later proven to have a real basis in biological fact. In the New York Times, William J. Broad writes, "Monster lovers take heart. Scientists argue that so much of the planet remains unexplored that new surprises are sure to show up; if not legendary beasts like the Loch Ness monster or the dinosaur-like reptile "Champ" said to inhabit Lake Champlain, then animals that in their own way may be even stranger." Cryptozoologists point out that natives often know a great deal more about their immediate environment (and the animals that inhabit it) than western investigators, and therefore suggest that, even today, thus far unproven tales and traditions regarding unknown undescribed animals in native folklore should not be summarily dismissed in the same way.

There are several animals cited as examples for continuing cryptozoological efforts (none of which were actually discovered by cryptozoologists): The Coelacanth, a "living fossil" - a representative of an order of fish believed to have been extinct for 65 million years - was identified from a specimen found in a fishing net in 1938 off the coast of South Africa. (The coelacanth was well known to Comoros fishermen as the Gombessa, but unknown to scientists.) Of an even older lineage than the coelacanth are the Graptolites. Living representatives were first found in 1882, although the group had previously been presumed to have been extinct for 300 million years. Cryptozoologists point these out to demonstrate that there are many unexplored regions of the world left, and that remote exotic locations or specialized ecosystems relatively untouched by man may contain unexpected life. Similarly cited is the 1976 discovery of the previously unknown megamouth shark, discovered off Oahu, Hawaii, when it became entangled in a ship's anchor.

Some have cautioned against applying the "megamouth analogy" too broadly to hypothetical creatures, noting that while "the megamouth does show that the oceans have a lot of secrets left to reveal ... The Megamouth is not a useful analogy to support the existence of marine cryptids" in general. Also cited is the 2003 discovery of the remains of Homo floresiensis, a descendent of Homo erectus which took the anthropological community completely by surprise. Myths of a strikingly similar creature, called Ebu Gogo by the local people, persisted until as late as the 19th Century, but it took until 2003 before the possible fossil remains of this species were found. In 1930, a Danish research ship, the Dana, collected a 6-foot eel larva. A 3 inch larva (called a leptocephalus) grows into a 6 foot eel. Scaling up, a 6 foot larva may result in a 100 foot adult. Cryptozoological supporters have noted that many unfamiliar animals, when first reported, were considered hoaxes, delusions or misidentifications.

The Platypus, Giant Squid, Mountain Gorilla, Grizzly-polar bear hybrid, and Komodo Dragon are a few such creatures. Supporters note that unyielding skepticism may in fact inhibit discovery of unknown animals. Others have suggested a rigid world view disallows many academics from accepting evidence contrary to the prevailing paradigm. The emblem of the now-defunct International Society for Cryptozoology is the Okapi, a forest-dwelling relative of the Giraffe that was unknown to Western scientists prior to 1901. Georges Cuvier's so-called "Rash Dictum" (a phrase coined by Heuvelmans) is sometimes cited as a reason that researchers should avoid unfounded, "rash" conclusions: in 1821, Cuvier remarked that it was unlikely for any large, unknown animal to be discovered, not because they aren't conspicuous, but because there aren't that many. Fewer than 50 such discoveries have been made since Cuvier's statement. Categories of Animals Type 1 : Animals known from native tradition, i.e. a "print" in the collective memory.

Most mystery animals dealing relevant to cryptozoology are known by tradition, and therefore possess a vernacular name (or several ones) among the natives. It should be emphasized that many "classified" animals belong to this category : most people known the wolf or the bear, for instance, more by tradition than by any other means... Artistic representations of animals also fall into this category, unless they are directly related to an actual observation, thus relevant to the following category. Type 2 : Animals known by witness' account, i.e. a "print" in any of the five human senses. We indeed possess visual information (when the animal is observed), as well as auditive (when it is heard crying, whistling... or just moving), olfactive (when it is smelt), tactile (when it is touched), and even gustative (when it is eaten). Type 3 : Animals known by interaction with matter, i.e. a physical "print". Tracks and trails (print on the ground), photographies and movies (print on a pellicule), sonar echoes (electronic print), injury marks (claw, tooth...

print), hybridization marks (genetic print), evidence of symbiosis with another species or modification of the environment (ecological print), etc. Type 4 : Animals known by anatomical fragments. Hears, feathers, fur, bone fragments, excrements, blood drops, tissue samples, etc. Type 5 : Animals known by an actual complet specimen. One could believe that cryptozoology is not concerned with this categorie, but there are indeed some controversial species relevant to cryptozoology, although they have been described from a specimen : for instance, the pygmy elephant (Loxodonta pumilio). While many cryptozoologists strive for legitimacy and some are respected scientists in other fields, and though discoveries of previously unknown animals are often subject to great attention, cryptozoology per se has never been fully embraced by the scientific community. A cryptozoologist may propose that an interest in reports of animals does not entail belief, but a detractor might counter that accepting unsubstantiated sightings without skepticism is itself a belief. As in other fields, cryptozoologists tend to be responsible for disproving their own objects of study. For example, some cryptozoologists have collected statistical data and studied witness accounts that challenge the validity of many Bigfoot sightings.

It is the commitment to spectacular animals (mostly vertebrates) that makes cryptozoology's critics suspicious of sensationalism. A source of suspicion could be that cryptids are usually creatures that should have been the least likely to remain undetected and to leave no traces in the fossil record, such as dinosaurs and hominids. More probable cryptids like smaller vertebrates and invertebrates are usually not reported as cryptids and seem to be of little interest to cryptozoologists. Many mainstream experts are likely put off by the more sensationalistic fringe elements in cryptozoology, and the occasional overlap with alleged paranormal phenomena. Another reason for the lukewarm reaction from mainstream science may be a lack of specialization. Unlike mainstream animal experts (who typically focus vary narrowly on a specific species for their study), many cryptozoologists study or research a broad range of alleged creatures from many different families. Most criticism - and sometimes ridicule - from the scientific mainstream is, however, directed at the proponents for the existence of the more "famous" cryptids (like Bigfoot, Yeti or the Loch Ness Monster), whose existence is generally regarded as highly unlikely. Ben S.

Roesch calls these alleged creatures "mega-monsters", and furthermore notes that "many lesser known mystery creatures" are alleged to exist as well, and that "some of these have more evidence going for them than the monster super-stars." The larger cryptids, in fact, would not only have to often evade close contact (accidental or otherwise) with humans to remain undiscovered, they would also have to do so in great numbers. Such creatures could not survive unless there were a gene pool composed of many - maybe hundreds - of the creatures. Many lake monsters are proposed to be prehistoric reptiles that would live undetected in lakes despite the lakes being too cold for any known aquatic reptiles and with too little space and food to sustain a viable population of large animals. Aquatic animals with lungs like mammals and plesiosaurs would also need to surface for air, making their ability to remain undetected in the view of skeptics like for example Bengt Sjogren (1980) very unlikely. There is also no evidence for any surviving prehistoric creatures in the fossil record. No unambiguous physical evidence (like a dead specimen) has ever been presented.

Supposedly credible eye-witness reports exist of Bigfoot-like creatures in densely populated areas along the American east-coast, sightings of creatures such as Mothman, Spring-heeled Jack, reptilian humanoids and of ghosts, whose eyewitnesses might be just as honest and credible. A cryptozoologist must also address the sudden appearance and disappearance of sightings of the proposed animals, for example the Loch Ness monster was not commonly reported until the 1930s. In the 19th century, a Swedish folklorist collected trustworthy reports of sightings of lindworms in Smaland, Sweden, but after a reward for a real animal was proclaimed, not only did any fail to find a lindworm, but the reports of existing such creatures rapidly decreased and disappeared entirely (Sjogren, 1980). The portrayal of the Loch Ness Monster's form appears to have changed radically between early sightings and the discovery of the plesiosaur. Cryptozoology - Cryptozoology Cryptozoology Help others to learn from your story. Investigate with us. (23 votes) Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven.

This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and Chupacabra; and wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats or "ABCs" (an initialism commonly used by cryptozoologists that stands for Alien Big Cats). The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983. Cryptozoology is not a recognized branch of zoology or a discipline of science.[1] It is an example of pseudoscience because it relies heavily upon anecdotal evidence, stories and alleged sightings. The coining of the word cryptozoology is often attributed to Belgian-French zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans, though Heuvelmans attributes coinage of the term to the late Scottish explorer and adventurer Ivan T. Sanderson. Heuvelmans' 1955 book On the Track of Unknown Animals traces the scholarly origins of the discipline to Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans and his 1892 study, The Great Sea Serpent.

Heuvelmans argued that cryptozoology should be undertaken with scientific rigor, but with an open-minded, interdisciplinary approach. He also stressed that attention should be given to local, urban and folkloric sources regarding such creatures, arguing that while often layered in unlikely and fantastic elements, folktales can have small grains of truth and important information regarding undiscovered organisms. Phantom cats (an example of living animals supposedly found outside of their normal range) are a common subject of cryptozoological interest, largely due to the relative likelihood of existence in comparison to fantastical cryptids lacking any evidence of existence, such as Mothman. Crypto as a Major Cryptozoology Definitions: Cryptozoology-is a pseudoscience focused on the search for animals which are considered to be legendary or otherwise nonexistent by mainstream biology . This includes looking for living examples of animals which are considered to be extinct, such as dinosaurs ; animals whose existence lacks physical support but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and el Chupacabra ;and wild animals dramatically outside of their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats . Those involved in cryptozoological study are known as cryptozoologists.

The animals they study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983. Cryptozoology is, literally, the study of hidden animals. It is the study of such creatures as the Australian bunyip, Bigfoot, the chupacabra, and the Loch Ness monster. It is not a recognized branch of the science of zoology. Cryptozoology relies heavily upon testimonials and circumstantial evidence in the form of legends and folklore, and the stories and alleged sightings of mysterious beasts by indigenous peoples, explorers, and travelers. Since cryptozoologists spend most of their energy trying to establish the existence of creatures, rather than examining actual animals, they are more akin to psi researchers than to zoologists. Expertise in zoology, however, is asserted to be a necessity for work in cryptozoology, according to Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans, who coined the term to describe his investigations of animals unknown to science. This focus on evaluating the evidence for "cryptids" was continued by the International Society for Cryptozoology, which is now defunct.

So You Want to be a Cryptozoologist: So you want to go to college to ï¿½be a cryptozoologist.ï¿½ Great. You have to choose a good college, in general, that will focus your interests and be high quality itself in doing research, study, and scholarship on the specific topic or cryptid that excites you so you may then apply that coursework or fieldwork to your special cryptozoological view of the animal world. There are several ways you can prepare to be a scientist with a cryptozoological interest. (Actually being a ï¿½cryptozoologistï¿½ is so rare as to be almost as infrequent as seeing a Yeti. There are no jobs, per se, in cryptozoology, really, other than writing and blogging. Only a handful of people in the world actually are free-standing cryptozoologists.) In high school, any of the following will assist with having a vocation related to or specifically one that enhances your interests in cryptozoology: biology, human anatomy, zoology, anthropology, psychology (for interviewing), criminal investigations, and so forth. You also need to be a good communicator, so take writing or English classes where papers are written.

Then you can build on those courses and grades to assist you to get into college. Before college, the best way to follow a passion, for example, in the Loch Ness Monster is to study hard, and stay on track to get into a college by taking high school classes on environmental studies, biology, or aquatic studies (if offered). In high school, if you want to learn more about Bigfoot, take courses in biology, zoology, anthropology, and psychology. You have to creatively link your favorite cryptid with the related areas of study, because, frankly, no one has courses on the Death Worm of Mongolia or Mothman or Thylacines in high school. It is the same once you are in college. Sadly, however, in 99.9% of colleges and universities, there is no coursework in cryptozoology. Some professor may, once in a blue moon, offer a semesterï¿½s elective about the subject, but that is a rarity. There are no higher educational institutions with departments in cryptozoology or doing anything special with cryptozoology. You have to focus on the classes and areas of research related to the cryptids you like to study.

With your parents or a guidance counselor at your high school, you can ask about what good universities exist in your state or other locations where you want to attend college, which have outstanding biology or zoology departments for general cryptozoology interests, aquatic studies or marine science departments for lake/sea monster work, and anthropology departments for Bigfoot and hominology research and fieldwork. You also might wish to think about working or volunteering at a zoo or an aquarium when you can, in high school, if you have one nearby. You can research online those places near your home to visit and ask to volunteer or obtain employment. Or if you are in a more rural location, you might wish to explore mentoring in a wildlife studies program, at a nature center, on a farm, or with a vet where you could learn more about animals, in general. Whatever you decide, keeping your passion alive about cryptozoology could lead to some wonderful discoveries in the animal world, and in yourself. Cryptozoology - spooksinvestigations.com Cryptozoology Cryptozoology There have been stories for thousands of years about creatures that exist on our planet in remote regions and even in our back yards.

A couple of examples of these types of creatures are the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, the Moth Man, and The Jersey Devil, ect. These unique and strange animals are called Cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983. This is where the term Cryptozoology comes into play. Cryptozoology (from Greek, kryptos, "hidden" + zoology; literally, "study of hidden animals") refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven. Yet Cryptids are highly unnacepted by science (such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster), as well as animals reported in areas outside of their normal habitat, and surviving members of species believed to be extinct. There are so many people around the United States and around the world who have stories about these fasinating creatures. Some of these people have had encounters with the animals and captured them on film. The incidents that occur with these people are so pronounced and in such detail that we are able to come up with composites of what these creatures can potentially look like.

The origins of CRYPTOZOOLOGY, CRYPTIDS AND CRYPTOZOOLOGISTS The coining of the word cryptozoology is often attributed to Belgian-French zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans, though Heuvelmans attributes coinage of the term to the late Scottish explorer and adventurer Ivan T. Sanderson. Heuvelmans' 1955 book On the Track of Unknown Animals traces the scholarly origins of the discipline to Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans and his 1892 study, The Great Sea Serpent. Heuvelmans argued that cryptozoology should be undertaken with scientific rigor, but with an open-minded, interdisciplinary approach. He also stressed that attention should be given to local, urban and folkloric sources regarding such creatures, arguing that while often layered in unlikely and fantastic elements, folktales can have small grains of truth and important information regarding undiscovered organisms. Phantom cats (an example of living animals supposedly found outside of their normal range) are a common subject of cryptozoological interest, largely due to the relative likelihood of existence in comparison to fantastical cryptids lacking any evidence of existence, such as Mothman.

Another notable book on the subject is Willy Ley's Exotic Zoology (1959). Ley was best known for his writings on rocketry and related topics, but he was trained in paleontology, and wrote a number of books about animals. Ley's collection Exotic Zoology is of some interest to cryptozoology, as he discusses the Yeti and sea serpents, as well as relict dinosaurs. The book entertains the possibility that some legendary creatures (like the sirrush, the unicorn or the cyclops) might be based on actual animals, through misinterpretation of the animals and/or their remains. Also notable is the work of British zoologist and cryptozoologist Karl Shuker, who has published 12 books and countless articles on numerous cryptozoological subjects since the mid-1980s. Loren Coleman, a modern popularizer of cryptozoology, has chronicled the history and personalities of cryptozoology in his books.

Bernard Heuvelmans Heuvelmans was born on October 10th, 1916, in Le Havre, France and raised in Belgium, and earned a doctorate in zoology from the Free University of Brussels (now split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel). Heuvelmans was a pupil of Serge Frechkop, a proponent of the Theory of Initial Bipedalism. His doctoral dissertation concerned the teeth of the aardvark, which had previously defied classification. Though earlier interested in zoological oddities, he credits a 1948 Saturday Evening Post article, "There Could be Dinosaurs", by Ivan T. Sanderson, with inspiring a determined interest in unknown animals. Sanderson discussed the possibility of dinosaurs surviving in remote corners of the world. Heuvelmans undertook a massive amount of research and wrote On the Track of Unknown Animals, considered by some the most influential work of cryptozoology in the twentieth century. After On the Track, Heuvelmans wrote many other books and articles, few of which have been translated into English.

His works sold well among general audiences, but saw little attention from mainstream scientists and experts. In the Wake of the Sea-Serpents was his second book translated into English and sold in the United States in 1968. It consisted of his book on sea serpents, with parts of his book on the giant squid (and colossal squid) added. As he continued his researches he saw the need to "give a name to the totally new discipline in zoology my research implied. That is how I coined the word 'cryptozoology,' the science of hidden animals." Heuvelmans searched the world's oceans for giant animals, to substantiate the rumors and legends about animals known to local people but still unknown to science. In the late 1960s, Heuvelmans helped spread the controversy surrounding the Minnesota Iceman when he examined the "ice man" then in the possession of a road-traveling circus exhibitor. Heuvelmans thought the creature could be genuine and published a formal description, naming it as the new species Homo pongoides.

There was never conclusive evidence given to either substantiate or discredit the Minnesota Iceman, and the idea that it represented a new species of living hominid has never been accepted by mainstream zoologists. In 1975 Heuvelmans established the Center for Cryptozoology in France, where his library is housed. In 1982 he helped to found the International Society of Cryptozoology, and served as its first president. He was also the first president of the Centre for Fortean Zoology. In 1999 he donated over 50,000 documents, photos, and specimens to the Museum of Zoology in Lausanne, Switzerland. Although much admired and considered "the father of cryptozoology" among cryptozoologists and many general readers, Heuvelmans was also criticized and even ridiculed for his belief in cryptids by skeptics, notably Swedish author and naturalist Bengt Sjögren. He died on August 22nd, 2001, at the age of 84.

Here is a brief list of some of our worlds Cryptids The Loch Ness Monster The Loch Ness Monster (Scottish Gaelic: Niseag) is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next. Popular interest and belief in the animal has varied since it was brought to the world's attention in 1933. Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with minimal and much-disputed photographic material and sonar readings.The most common speculation among believers is that the creature represents a line of long-surviving plesiosaurs. The scientific community regards the Loch Ness Monster as a modern-day myth, and explains sightings as a mix of hoaxes and wishful thinking. Despite this, it remains one of the most famous examples of cryptozoology. The legendary monster has been affectionately referred to by the nickname Nessie (Scottish Gaelic: Niseag) since the 1950s. Bigfoot Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid. The term "sasquatch" is an anglicized derivative of the Halkomelem word sásq’ets. Scientists discount the existence of bigfoot and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoax, rather than a living animal, in part because of the large numbers thought necessary to maintain a breeding population. A few scientists, such as Jane Goodall and Jeffrey Meldrum, have expressed interest and belief in the creature, with Meldrum expressing the opinion that evidence collected of alleged Bigfoot encounters warrants further evaluation and testing. Bigfoot remains one of the more famous examples of a cryptid within cryptozoology, and an enduring legend. The Mothman Mothman is a legendary creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia from 15 November 1966 to 15 December 1967. The first newspaper report was published in the Point Pleasant Register dated 16 November 1966, entitled "Couples See Man-Sized Bird...Creature...Something".

Mothman was introduced to a wider audience by Gray Barker in 1970, later popularized by John Keel in his 1975 book The Mothman Prophecies, claiming that Mothman was related to a wide array of supernatural events in the area and the collapse of the Silver Bridge. The 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies, starring Richard Gere, was based on Keel's book. On Nov. 15, 1966, two young couples from Point Pleasant, Roger and Linda Scarberry, and Steve and Mary Mallette told police they saw a large white creature whose eyes "glowed red" when the car headlights picked it up. They described it as a "flying man with ten foot wings" following their car while they were driving in an area of town known as 'the TNT area', the site of a former World War II munitions plant. During the next few days, other people reported similar sightings. Two volunteer firemen who sighted it said it was a "large bird with red eyes". Mason County Sheriff George Johnson commented that he believed the sightings were due to an unusually large heron he termed a "shitepoke".

Contractor Newell Partridge told Johnson that when he aimed a flashlight at a creature in a nearby field its eyes glowed "like bicycle reflectors", and blamed buzzing noises from his television set and the disappearance of his German Shepherd dog on the creature. Wildlife biologist Dr. Robert L. Smith at West Virginia University told reporters that descriptions and sightings all fit the Sandhill Crane, a large American crane almost as high as a man with a seven foot wingspan featuring circles of reddish coloring around the eyes, and that the bird may have wandered out of its migration route.There were no Mothman reports in the immediate aftermath of the December 15, 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge and the death of 46 people, giving rise to legends that the Mothman sightings and the bridge collapse were connected. The Jersey Devil The Jersey Devil is a legendary creature or cryptid said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, United States. The creature is often described as a flying biped with hooves, but there are many different variations. The Jersey Devil has worked its way into the pop culture of the area, even lending its name to New Jersey's team in the National Hockey League.

According to Brian Dunning of Skeptoid, folk tales of the Jersey Devil prior to 1909 calling it the "Leeds Devil" may have been created to discredit local politician Daniel Leeds who served as deputy to the colonial governor of New York and New Jersey in the 1700s. The Jersey Devil remained an obscure regional legend through most of the 18th and 19th centuries until a series of purported - (appear or claim to be or do something) sightings in 1909 gained it press coverage and wider notability. Dunning writes that the Jersey Devil was described in newspapers as having "leathery batlike wings", the body of a serpent and the head of a horse, cloven hooves, two small arms, a devil's forked tail, and a "horrifying screech". Today, the Jersey Devil is considered to be more in the realm of popular culture than folklore. The Chupacabras The chupacabras (Spanish origin), from chupar "to suck" and cabra "goat", literally "goat sucker") is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas.

It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico (where these sightings were first reported), Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities. The name comes from the animal's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats. Physical descriptions of the creature vary. Eyewitness sightings have been claimed as early as 1995 in Puerto Rico, and have since been reported as far north as Maine, and as far south as Chile, and even being spotted outside the Americas in countries like Russia and The Philippines. It is supposedly a heavy creature, the size of a small bear, with a row of spines reaching from the neck to the base of the tail. The sighting reports of chupacabras end up being uncorroborated eyewitness reports without evidence, or canids with mange. Biologists and wildlife management officials view the chupacabras as a contemporary legend. The first reported attacks occurred in March 1995 in Puerto Rico. In this attack, eight sheep were discovered dead, each with three puncture wounds in the chest area and completely drained of blood.

A few months later, in August, an eyewitness, Madelyne Tolentino, reported seeing the creature in the Puerto Rican town of Canóvanas, when as many as 150 farm animals and pets were reportedly killed. In 1975, similar killings in the small town of Moca, were attributed to El Vampiro de Moca (The Vampire of Moca). Initially it was suspected that the killings were committed by a Satanic cult; later more killings were reported around the island, and many farms reported loss of animal life. Each of the animals were reported to have had their bodies bled dry through a series of small circular incisions. Puerto Rican comedian and entrepreneur Silverio Pérez is credited with coining the term chupacabras soon after the first incidents were reported in the press. Shortly after the first reported incidents in Puerto Rico, other animal deaths were reported in other countries, such as the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Brazil, United States, and Mexico. Copyright © 2012 Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited. All Rights Reserved. Thank You All For Visiting Our Site.

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Question: Cryptozoology refers to the study of creatures which are?
Answer: Mythical