Cryptozoology

[GrnMarvl14]

We had a thread on UFOs, so how about a thread on cryptozoology? For those unaware, cryptozoology is the "study of hidden animals." It's a term applied to known animals in areas where they're not known to exist, to animals that have been presumed extinct but sightings linger on, and animals that are only known to exist through person-by-person accounts and not really acknowledged by science.

Numerous creatures have, at some point, been considered cryptozoological animals, or cryptids as they're more commonly called. From the giant squid to the giant panda to the granddaddy of all cryptids: The coelocanth. These creatures are, now, part of the known pantheon of species that exist. But there are other more...infamous cryptids, such as the Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot/Sasquatch, the Yeti/Abominable Snowman, and countless others.

The basis for this thread, though? Which, if any, cryptids do you believe exist? Which, if any, cryptids do you believe to be the result of hoaxes, and how do you explain them away if they ARE hoaxes?

 

[Fig]

The most famous cryptid, of course, has four legs and scales, may or may not have two bat-like wings, may or may not have a serpentine body, may or may not breath fire, may or may not use a gem called carbuncle for flight, may or may not be wise, may or may not guard a treasure hoard, may or may not...

 

[Jukain]

XD Let's not forget El Chupacabra. Anyway, there is not one cryptid that I can say for certain that I believe could be real.

 

[Barb]

I just read a book on this subject. With respect to sea serpents and the like, many of them proved to be whales and/or sharks, which are easily identified in Middle Age artwork. The famous photo of "Nessie" taken in the 1930s, however, was proved to be a hoax. I'm not sure if anything lives in the depths of either Loch Ness, Lake Champlain, or Lake Ogopogo but it would not surprise me if there was a previously unidentified animal there.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

I have to be honest and say I do not doubt the existence of ANY cryptid. Why? Because it's easier to say it's out there and never be proven wrong than say it's not out there and have it make international headlines the next day.

Poser over baby Bigfoot poachers

See? Not exactly confirmation, but the Malaysian government sure seems to think something's out there. They've even issued permits for people wanting to go looking.

Back on topic, I always like to believe that there's something out there, close by, that hasn't been discovered. I'm not crazy enough to believe that I'll find something, but you never know.

And yes, I didn't list EVERY cryptid, not even every FAMOUS cryptid, because if I did, we'd be here for quite a while. I mean, I've got "Cryptozoology A-Z" right in front of me.

 

[ridley-x4]

Intelligence on SPPf.

But if you wanna get serious, how about maybe this giant moth I heard about? I think it was called, "Mothman".

I'd love to see the Leviathan or the Kraken as well.

 

[SnoringFrog]

I'm not sure which ones I think could be real and which not. Some of them sound reasonable, but others just sound like rip-offs of someone who actually saw something once. But I do find cryptozoology quite interesting, and I read books on it when I come across them, although I'm not too deeply interested in it, so I never look for the books.

Bigfoot, Nessie, and other such cryptids do seem quite likely to be mere hoaxes though. I believe that someone may have actually seen one once, bu t after that many more people started saying they saw them when they didn't, adn thus they turned into what they are today.