Cryptozoology (from Greek: κρυπτός, kryptós, "hidden"; ζῷον, zôon, "animal"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge" or "study" – c.f. zoology) is the search for animals hypothesized to exist, but for which conclusive proof is missing. The field also includes the search for known animals believed to be extinct. Zoology (from Greek: ζῴον, zoion, animal; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ...

People who study or search for such animals are called cryptozoologists, while the hypothetical creatures involved are sometimes called "cryptids", a term coined by John Wall in 1983.^[1] Look up Hypothesis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Cryptids are creatures presumed extinct, hypothetical species, or creatures known from anecdotal evidence and/or other evidence insufficient to prove their existence with scientific certainty. ...

Overview

Invention of the term "cryptozoology" is often attributed to noted zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans. But in his book, In the Wake of Sea Serpents, Heuvelmans attributes coinage of the term to the late Scottish explorer and adventurer Ivan T. Sanderson.^[2] Heuvelmans' 1955 book, On the Track of Unknown Animals, traces the scholarly origins of the discipline to Anthonid Cornelis Oudemans^[3] 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. While often layered in unlikely and fantastic elements, folktales can have small grains of truth and important information regarding these organisms. Loren Coleman, a modern popularizer of cryptozoology, has chronicled the history and personalities of the science in his books.^[4] Zoology (Greek zoon = animal and logos = word) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... Bernard Heuvelmans (October 10, 1916 – August 22, 2001) was a scientist, explorer, researcher, and a writer probably best known as a founder of cryptozoology. ... This article is about the Scottish as an ethnic group. ... Ivan Terrance Sanderson (January 30, 1911 – February 19, 1973) was a naturalist and writer born in Edinburgh, Scotland, who later became a naturalized citizen of the United States. ... See also: 1954 in literature, other events of 1955, 1956 in literature, list of years in literature. ... On the Track of Unknown Animals is a cryptozoological book by French author Bernard Heuvelmans that was first published in 1958. ... Anthonid Cornelis Oudemans was a Dutch scientist. ... Loch Ness Monster (Painting) by Heikenwaelder Hugo Sea serpents are a kind of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine. ... For the medical term see rigor (medicine) Rigour (American English: rigor) has a number of meanings in relation to intellectual life and discourse. ... Interdisciplinary work is that which integrates concepts across different disciplines. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Loren Coleman in a photograph featured in his profile on Cryptomundo. ...

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 did write 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 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). The most rigorously scientific analyses of cryptids can be found in the works of British zoologist and cryptozoologist Dr Karl Shuker, who has published 12 books and countless articles on numerous cryptozoological subjects since the mid-1980s. Willy Ley (October 2, 1906 - June 24, 1969) was a science writer and space advocate who helped popularise rocketry and spaceflight in Germany and the United States in the early-mid twentieth century. ... A Soyuz rocket, at Baikonur launch pad. ... Paleontology, palaeontology or palæontology (from Greek: paleo, ancient; ontos, being; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... “Abominable Snowman” redirects here. ... Loch Ness Monster (Painting) by Heikenwaelder Hugo Sea serpents are a kind of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine. ... The term relict is used to refer to surviving remnants of natural phenomena. ... A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature (often known as fabulous creatures in historical literature). ... The sirrush is the creature depicted on the reconstructed Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylon. ... The gentle and pensive maiden has the power to tame the unicorn, in this fresco in Palazzo Farnese, Rome, probably by Domenichino, ca 1602 For other uses, see Unicorn (disambiguation). ... Polyphemus the Cyclops. ... Dr. Karl P. N. Shuker (born 1959) is a British zoologist, specialising in cryptozoology. ...

Mainstream science and cryptozoology

"The Colossal Octopus", a pen and wash drawing by malacologist Pierre Denys de Montfort, 1801, from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by a Kraken off the coast of Angola.

Many cryptozoologists strive for legitimacy – some of them are respected scientists in other fields – and discoveries of previously unknown animals are often subject to great attention. However, cryptozoology per se has never been fully embraced by the scientific community. One can not earn a degree in cryptozoology from any college or university. Some cryptozoologists align themselves with more scientifically rigorous fields like zoology, while others tend toward an anthropological slant or even a Fortean perspective – however, cryptozoology is often considered a pseudoscience by skeptical mainstream zoologists and biologists ^{[citation needed]}. Image File history File links An alleged colossal octopus drawn in 1801 by French malacologist Pierre Denys de Montfort from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by such a creature outside the coast of Angola. ... Image File history File links An alleged colossal octopus drawn in 1801 by French malacologist Pierre Denys de Montfort from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by such a creature outside the coast of Angola. ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora - Chitons Monoplacophora Bivalvia - Bivalves Scaphopoda - Tusk shells Gastropoda - Snails and Slugs Cephalopoda - Squids, Octopuses, etc. ... Pierre Dénys de Montfort (1766 - 1820) was a French naturalist, remembered today for his pioneering inquiries into the existence of the Giant Squid Archeteuthis, which was thought to be an old wives tale, and for which he was long dismissed. ... Pen and wash drawing by malacologist Pierre Dénys de Montfort, 1801, from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by such a creature off the coast of Angola. ... Zoology (from Greek: ζῴον, zoion, animal; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... Anthropology (from Greek: ἀνθρωπος, anthropos, human being; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of humanity. ... Charles Fort, 1920 Charles Hoy Fort (August 6, 1874 - May 3, 1932), writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena, was the son of an Albany grocer of Dutch ancestry. ... Phrenology is regarded today as a classic example of pseudoscience. ...

Most criticism – and occasional ridicule – from the scientific mainstream is directed at proponents for the existence of the more "famous" mega-fauna cryptids (like Bigfoot, the Yeti or the Loch Ness Monster), whose existence is generally regarded as highly unlikely. As historian Mike Dash^[5] notes, few scientists doubt there are thousands of unknown animals, particularly invertebrates, awaiting discovery. However, most cryptozoologists are uninterested in researching and cataloging newly-discovered species of ants or beetles. As Dash writes, cryptozoologists focus their efforts towards "more elusive" creatures that have often defied decades' work aimed at confirming their existence, and which are furthermore regarded by mainstream scientists as the animals least likely to remain undetected. Mainstream scientific sceptics have argued that larger cryptids such as Bigfoot would not only have to evade close contact with humans to remain undiscovered, but would have to do so in great numbers in order to maintain a viable breeding population and gene pool of perhaps hundreds of the supposed creatures^[6]. Despite cryptid sightings reported all over the world, and the supposed creatures' significant size, no unambiguous physical evidence (such as a specimen) has ever been presented of the more sensational cryptids. It has been suggested that Evidence regarding Bigfoot be merged into this article or section. ... “Abominable Snowman” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Loch Ness Monster (disambiguation). ... Mike Dash (b. ... For other uses, see Ant (disambiguation). ... Suborders Adephaga Archostemata Myxophaga Polyphaga See subgroups of the order Coleoptera Beetles are the most diverse group of insects. ... The gene pool of a species or a population is the complete set of unique alleles that would be found by inspecting the genetic material of every living member of that species or population. ...

Sceptics also assert^[7] that the legendary lake "monsters" thought to be prehistoric reptiles would have to live undetected even in lakes too cold for any known aquatic reptiles – and with too little space and food to sustain a viable population. Aquatic animals with lungs like mammals and plesiosaurs would need to surface for air, making their ability to remain undetected very unlikely. Prehistory (Greek words προ = before and ιστορία = history) is the period of human history prior to the advent of writing (which marks the beginning of recorded history). ... Families Plesiosaurs (IPA ) (Greek: plesios, near to + sauros, lizard) were large, carnivorous aquatic reptiles. ...

However, cryptozoologists do point out that much of the planet remains unexplored, especially deep oceans, and cryptozoological claims about oceanic species may be given more credence. By plotting the discovery rate of new species, Paxton^[8] found that as many as 47 large oceanic species remain undiscovered. Indeed, the comparatively recent discoveries of the Coelacanth and the megamouth shark show that large deep-sea animals can remain undetected. Families See text. ... Binomial name Megachasma pelagios Taylor, Compagno and Struhsaker, 1983 The megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios, is an extremely rare and unusual species of shark, discovered in 1976, with 37 specimens known to be caught or sighted as of 2006. ...

Cryptozoology supporters have noted that in the early days of western exploration of the world, many native tales of unknown animals initially dismissed as superstition by western scientists, were later proven to have a basis in biological fact^[1], and that many unfamiliar animals, when initially reported, were considered hoaxes, delusions or misidentifications^[1]: the platypus, giant squid, mountain gorilla, grizzly-polar bear hybrid and Komodo dragon are but a few creatures whose existence was denied by reputable scientists, who often refused to consider the evidence seriously. For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ... Indigenous peoples are: Peoples living in an area prior to colonization by a state Peoples living in an area within a nation-state, prior to the formation of a nation-state, but who do not identify with the dominant nation. ... For other uses, see Superstition (disambiguation). ... A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. ... Binomial name (Shaw, 1799) Platypus range (indicated by darker shading)[3] The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. ... Species Architeuthis dux Steenstrup, 1857 ?Architeuthis hartingii Verrill, 1875 ?Architeuthis japonica Pfeffer, 1912 ?Architeuthis kirkii Robson, 1887 ?Architeuthis martensi (Hilgendorf, 1880) ?Architeuthis physeteris (Joubin, 1900) ?Architeuthis sanctipauli (Velain, 1877) ?Architeuthis stockii (Kirk, 1882) Synonyms Architeuthus Steenstrup, 1857 Dinoteuthis More, 1875 Dubioteuthis Joubin, 1900 Megaloteuthis Kent, 1874 Megateuthis Hilgendorf in Carus... Trinomial name Gorilla berengei berengei Matschie, 1914 The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is one of two subspecies of Eastern Gorillas. ... A grizzly-polar bear hybrid is a rare ursid hybrid that has occurred both in captivity and in the wild. ... Binomial name Ouwens, 1912 Komodo dragon distribution The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo Monitor[1], Komodo Island Monitor[1], Ora (to the natives of Komodo[2]), or simply Komodo, is the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2-3 metres (approximately...

Supporters also argue^[1] that the mainstream scientific response to much cryptozoology represents a frustrating paradox or Catch 22: sceptics often cite a lack of peer reviewed articles on cryptozoological subjects in their rejections of the subject, yet, simultaneously, scientific journals – the main forum for evaluation of scientific claims – mostly refuse to publish articles on cryptozoological matters. Additionally, supporters often argue^[1] that evidence is evaluated not on its merits or failings, but rather based on ad hominem opinions of researchers, or on prevailing paradigms or world views. For example, scientists like Grover Krantz and Jeff Meldrum have cited ample physical evidence that they contend strongly supports the reality of Bigfoot. Yet despite the fact that Krantz and Meldrum are recognized experts in their fields, their arguments regarding Bigfoot have largely been ignored by other scientists. Another well-attested cryptid that was largely ignored by scientists was the so-called Minnesota Iceman of the 1960s^[9], purportedly an unidentified hominid corpse inspected by two recognized experts, Sanderson and Huevelmans, who offered detailed descriptions and photos of the creature; despite their efforts and evangelizing the case, very few scientists expressed an interest. Sceptics of cryptozoolgy counter^{[citation needed]} that their scepticism regarding the subject prevents an unwarranted flood of misidentified animal sightings attributed to cryptids. Look up paradox in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Peer review (known as refereeing in some academic fields) is a scholarly process used in the publication of manuscripts and in the awarding of funding for research. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Look up ad hominem in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Paradigm (disambiguation). ... A world view (or worldview) is a term calqued from the German word Weltanschauung (pronounced ) Welt is the German word for world, and Anschauung is the German word for view or outlook. It implies a concept fundamental to German philosophy and epistemology and refers to a wide world perception. ... Gordon S. Grover Krantz (November 5, 1931 – February 14, 2002) was a professor of physical anthropology at Washington State University, and a renowned Bigfoot researcher. ... Jeffrey Meldrum (born 1958) is a tenured Associate Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology and Adjunct Associate Professor of the Department of Anthropology at Idaho State University. ... It has been suggested that Evidence regarding Bigfoot be merged into this article or section. ... The Minnesota Iceman is a purported creature frozen in a block of ice and displayed at state fairs or carnivals in an around Minnesota in the late 1960s as a missing link. Some have suggested the creature was a bigfoot or yeti, while others contend it was a hoax. ...

As in other fields, cryptozoologists are often responsible for disproving their own objects of study. For example, some cryptozoologists have collected evidence that disputes the validity of some facets of the Bigfoot/Sasquatch phenomenon.^[10]

There are several animals cited as examples for continuing cryptozoological efforts:

• The Coelacanth, a "living fossil" which represents 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). According to Dash^[11], the Coelacanth is a good case for paying close attention to natives' knowledge of animals: though the fish's survival was a complete surprise to outsiders, it was so well known to locals that natives commonly used the fish's rough scales as a sort of sandpaper.
• There was a 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 a deepwater fish, easily hidden in the world's oceans, and not comparable with other creatures reported, such as surviving marine reptiles. While the Megamouth is not a useful analogy to support the existence of marine 'cryptids' in general, it does demonstrate the resistance of science to identify new large species of marine animals without a corpse. Sightings of Megamouths now number approximately one a year. Before the discovery, one could argue this consistent sighting record was also present, but that the sightings were ignored or discredited as of some other animal."^[12]
• The 2003 discovery of the remains of Homo floresiensis, a descendent of Homo erectus, took the anthropological community completely by surprise. Legends of a strikingly similar creature, called Ebu Gogo by the natives of Flores, persisted as late as the nineteenth century, but it was not until 2003 before the fossil remains of this species were actually found. In addition, human folklore is full of references to small forest people, called dwarves, elves, fairies, gnomes, leprechauns or menehune.

Families See text. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... sheets of sandpaper Sandpaper is a form of paper where an abrasive material has been fixed to its surface; it is part of the coated abrasives family of abrasive products. ... Binomial name Megachasma pelagios Taylor, Compagno and Struhsaker, 1983 The megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios, is an extremely rare and unusual species of shark, discovered in 1976, with 37 specimens known to be caught or sighted as of 2006. ... OÊ»ahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English), the Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous island in the State of HawaiÊ»i. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... Binomial name P. Brown , 2004 Homo floresiensis (Man of Flores, nicknamed Hobbit) is the name for a possible species in the genus Homo, remarkable for its small body, small brain, and survival until relatively recent times. ... Binomial name (Dubois, 1892) Synonyms † Sinanthropus pekinensis † Javanthropus soloensis † Meganthropus paleojavanicus Homo erectus (Latin: upright man) is an extinct species of the genus Homo. ... Ebu Gogo is a human-like creature (or race of creatures) which appears in the mythology of the people of the island of Flores, Indonesia, of similar form to the leprechaun or elf. ... Map of Flores Island Flores (Portuguese for flowers) is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an island arc with an estimated area of 14,300 km² extending east from the Java island of Indonesia. ... For other uses, see Fossil (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In Polynesian mythology, the Menehune are similar to elves or fairies. ...

List of Cryptids

Main article: List of Cryptids

Cryptids are creatures presumed extinct, hypothetical species, or creatures known from anecdotal evidence and/or other evidence insufficient to prove their existence with scientific certainty. ...

See also

Look up cryptozoology in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Cryptids
• Cryptid
• Cryptobotany
• List of megafauna recently discovered
• List of fictional species
• Legendary creature
• List of legendary creatures
• List of notable figures in cryptozoology
• Monster
• Cryptic (zoology) - animals that are difficult to observe due to their behaviour or camouflage
• Pseudoscience and protoscience - due to some fields of study in cryptozoology
• Xenobiology

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... Cryptids are creatures presumed extinct, hypothetical species, or creatures known from anecdotal evidence and/or other evidence insufficient to prove their existence with scientific certainty. ... Pen and wash drawing by malacologist Pierre Denys de Montfort, 1801, from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by a Kraken off the coast of Angola. ... The following is a list of megafauna recently discovered by western science (with their respective date of discovery), but which may have been known to native peoples in some areas. ... // There are a number of lists of fictional species: List of extraterrestrials in fiction List of fictional robots List of species in fantasy fiction List of dragons List of Pokémon List of Digimon List of fictional humanoid species List of fictional plants Categories: | ... A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature (often known as fabulous creatures in historical literature). ... J.F. Bertuch, Kinderbuch Fabelwesen 2, Anno 1806 This is a list of legendary creatures. ... Here follows a list of notable researchers and writers in the field of cryptozoology: Dmitri Bayanov, Hominologist Jerry Coleman, author of Strange Highways Loren Coleman, author of Bigfoot!: The True Story of Apes in America, Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology, Mysterious America, Mothman and Other Curious Encounters; coauthor... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... (this page is about animals that hide or use camouflage. ... Countershaded Ibex are almost invisible in the Israeli desert. ... Phrenology is regarded today as a classic example of pseudoscience. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Astrobiology (in Greek astron = star, bios = life and logos = word/science), also known as exobiology (Greek: exo = out) or xenobiology (Greek: xenos = foreign) is the term for a speculative field within biology which considers the possible variety of extraterrestrial life. ...

Notes and references

Loren Coleman in a photograph featured in his profile on Cryptomundo. ... Bernard Heuvelmans (October 10, 1916 – August 22, 2001) was a scientist, explorer, researcher, and a writer probably best known as a founder of cryptozoology. ... Thomas Baker Tom Slick, Jr. ... The Minnesota Iceman is a purported creature frozen in a block of ice and displayed at state fairs or carnivals in an around Minnesota in the late 1960s as a missing link. Some have suggested the creature was a bigfoot or yeti, while others contend it was a hoax. ...

Further reading

• Arment, Chad. Cryptozoology: Science & Speculation. Landisville, Penn.: Coachwhip, 2004.
• Arment, Chad, ed. Cryptozoology and the Investigation of Lesser-Known Mystery Animals. Landisville, Penn.: Coachwhip, 2006.
• Bille, Matthew. Rumors of Existence. Surrey, B.C.: Hancock, 1995.
• Clark, Jerome. Unexplained! 347 Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena. Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1993.
• Coghlan, Ronan. Cryptosup. Bangor: Xiphos, 2005.
• Coghlan, Ronan. Dictionary of Cryptozoology. Bangor: Xiphos, 2004.
• Coghlan, Ronan. Further Cryptozoology. Bangor: Xiphos, 2007.
• Coleman, Loren. "Bigfoot! The True Story of Apes in America". New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003.
• Coleman, Loren. "Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology". Fresno: Linden Press, 2002.
• Coleman, Loren and Jerome Clark. "Cryptozoology: A to Z". New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999.
• Eberhart, George M. Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology. 2 vols. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2002.
• Newton, Michael. Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology: A Global Guide to Hidden Animals and Their Pursuers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2005.
• Radford, Benjamin and Joe Nickell. "Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World's Most Elusive Creatures." Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2006.
• Shuker, Karl. In Search of Prehistoric Survivors. London: Blandford, 1995.
• Shuker, Karl. From Flying Toads To Snakes With Wings. St. Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn, 1997.
• Shuker, Karl. The Beasts That Hide From Man: Seeking the World's Last Undiscovered Animals. New York: Paraview Press, 2003.
• Weidensaul, Scott. The Ghost with Trembling Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking, and the Search for Lost Species. New York: North Point Press, 2002.
• Arnold, Neil. MONSTER! The A-Z Of Zooform Phenomena. Bideford: CFZ Press, 2007.

Ronan Coghlan (Born 1948) is an Irish writer living in Bangor, County Down in Northern Ireland. ... Loren Coleman in a photograph featured in his profile on Cryptomundo. ... Dr. Karl P. N. Shuker (born 1959) is a British zoologist, specialising in cryptozoology. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Cryptozoology

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

Organizations

• Bates College: Cryptozoology Out Of Time Place Scale
• British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club
• Centre for Fortean Zoology
• GUST- Global Underwater Search Team (Swedish, English)
• The International Society of Cryptozoology (archived website)
• Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society
• [1] The Legend of Standing Jack

Lists and monster directories

• Cryptomundo Latest news on cryptozoology
• American Monsters
• The Global Lake Monster Database
• The Cryptid Zoo
• Cryptozoolgical Realms
• Cryptozoology.com
• Loren Coleman The Cryptozoologist
• Cryptozoology links
• Open Directory Project - Cryptozoology
• Planet Cryptozoology
• The Shadowlands
• Strangeark
• New Zealand Cryptozoology
• MONSTER! The A-Z Of Zooform Phenomena
• MONSTERS OF KENT
• BEASTS OF LONDON
• Cryptoworld Cryptozoology and Fortean News