What is "Cryptozoology"

Forgive my ignorance. I'm interested.

[Edited on 24-12-2003 by VeeTwin]

It's the study of yet unconfirmed animals. Such as what the giant squid used to be, Loch Ness monster, Big Foot, etc.

Cryptozoology is the study of animals only rumored to actually exist. Does that help clear it up?

Sorry, I didnt see JungleJakes reply.

Yep, what they said...

Quick mini-listing....

Collossal Squid
Nessie
Champ
Mokelemobmbe
Chupacabra
Bigfoot
Dragons
Unicorns
Thunderbird

You get the idea.....

Thanks guys. I kind of thought it was along those lines, I just never knew the term for it.

check this out:

cryptozoology.com

Yep, what they said...

Quick mini-listing....

Collossal Squid
Nessie
Champ
Mokelemobmbe
Chupacabra
Bigfoot
Dragons
Unicorns
Thunderbird

You get the idea.....

Collossal Squid? As in the Kraken? It is no longer cryptozoology. It's been caught about 6 times since 2000.

also keep in mind that this study of non-proven creatures of myth is not considered to be a real science by many, includeing other scientists. they tend to be labled as frauds and lunitics. therefore they do not recieve much in the way of support for continueing their work. thus it tends to be a "stunted" study. anything ever found tends to be debunked to death. yes there are frauds out there hindering honest reserch. the study itself is valid though. keep these things in mind as you take a look into this exciteing field.

the truth is out there just waiting to be found.

i must say gazrok you are not just a moderator. you continuasly add things of value. almost every post you make is a contribution to the discussion.
keep up the good work. by the way i notice you can't get any vote for above? why not?

[edit on 25-3-2005 by drogo]

Originally posted by Gear

Yep, what they said...

Quick mini-listing....

Collossal Squid
Nessie
Champ
Mokelemobmbe
Chupacabra
Bigfoot
Dragons
Unicorns
Thunderbird

You get the idea.....

Collossal Squid? As in the Kraken? It is no longer cryptozoology. It's been caught about 6 times since 2000.

Id like to see proof of that.

Originally posted by Thain Esh Kelch
Id like to see proof of that.

Colossal Squid

First return on a google search.

[edit on 3-25-2005 by William One Sac]

Originally posted by William One Sac

Originally posted by Thain Esh Kelch
Id like to see proof of that.

Colossal Squid

First return on a google search.

[edit on 3-25-2005 by William One Sac]

Thx for the proof, though the article says one speciment only.

you'll win the Scrabble game if you can ever play it!

It's already answered, so all I wanted to add is a few other cool sounding words to look up in the dictionary:

Golgotha
Pseudopodium
Ectoplasm
Shiminoseki
Anthropomorphism
Diaspora
Grenadine
Trebuchet
Lackadaisical
Monocotyledon
Gossamery

[edit on 30-3-2005 by saint4God]

Also as the forum hear states


***Mysterious And Mythic Beasts That Defy Explanation**

So anything that really falls in to that,

Thx for the proof, though the article says one speciment only.

There've been more than one though... Just a couple years ago, there was a couple of them found in the span of just a month or so, even hit CNN.

I merely listed it as an example with the rest, as once, it was relegated to the crypto category, and yet then proven real.

Such examples really help to validate the field.

"Crypto" from Greek "hidden", "zoo" from Greek "animal", and "ology" from Greek "study". When most people mention or think of cryptozoology, things like Bigfoot, Lake monsters, and such come to mind, but most cryptids (unclassified animals) are less sensational. For example: supposedly extinct creatures like Carolina Parakeet and Thylacine, new species of dolphins, or melanistic animals (black tigers, lions), just to name a few.

as said b4 me it means the search for hidden animals

I think we use it 'cause it sounds cool . I wanna be a:

Cryptoeconomist (mystery money)
Cryptopodiatrist (secrets of the foot)
Cryptochiropractor (ancient spines)
Cryptonutritionist (lost family recipes)
Cryptocryptologist (deciphering the hidden meanings behind the hidden written interpretatoins of coded messages)

And of course, maybe study the alien aspects too:

Xenoeconomist (out-of-this world money making)
Xenopodiatrist (feet from space)
Xenochiropractor (vertebrates of extra-terrestrials)
Xenonutritionist (edible minerals from nearby planets)
Xenoxenologist (study of all things alien to aliens. In other words, everything that's normal to us)

I know this is a old post but just thought I'd suggest some reading material for those intrested in crypids.

1. On the Track of Unknown Animals- by Bernard Heuvelmans, who was one of the fathers of cryptozoology. Out of print, very expensive to own but well worth trying to find in the library

2. In the wake of the sea-serpents - also by Heuvelmans

3. Anything else by Heuvelmans if you can read French as these are his only two works that have been translated into English.

4. Anything by Ivan T Sanderson dealing with cryptids. He also wrote many books about nature

5. Anything by Loren Coleman lorencoleman.com...

6. Anything by John Keel

If you read enough material on the subject you will find that many works just rehash or quote these four authors.