Archives by date

You are browsing the site archives by date.

Monster Quest ~ The Real Hobbit + DSD ~ Loch Ness

Monster Quest: The Real Hobbit Travel to the interior of Sumatra, in Indonesia, in a search for what locals call the Orang Pendak [sic], translated as: Man of the Woods. In 2004 skeletal remains were found on the neighboring island of Flores and named “the Real Hobbit.” Could Orang Pendak [sic], with its human face, be a surviving ancestor to the Flores Man? An expedition is launched deep within the rainforest. The natives claim to see the creature often, and they even find footprints of an unknown upright walking beast. Will camera traps reveal its identity? One-part history, one-part science [...]

New Uakari Monkey Discovered

A photo of the new discovery is unavailable to date, but this example of Cacajao calvus rubicundus, the bald uakari is typical of the uakaris. Photo credit: Roy Fontaine. The New Scientist of January 16, 2008 reports the discovery of a new uakai monkey living in north-western Amazonia, which belongs to a species unknown to science until recently. It is now named Cacajao ayresii in honor of Brazilian biologist Marcio Ayres, who pioneered field studies on uakaris. The new species has a very restricted distribution, says Jean-Philippe Boubli of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, who describes it in a [...]

South Africa: New Mermaid Sighting!

From Curious Encounters, Faber and Faber, 1985. In recent years, Merbeings have taken on the appearance of Lizardpeople, as above, and the Merman and Mermaid roots in the sightings seemed to have been fading. Most reports of Merbeings generally seem to be from over a hundred years ago or are lost in the fog of folktales and legends. But that can all change in an instant. Coming to us from South Africa, from the weekend of January 12-13, 2008, is a new sighting of a more traditional Merwoman, indeed, a nearly classic Mermaid. Herald reporter Aldo Pekeur details the breaking [...]

Giant Fossil Rodent Discovered

Along with other media outlets, The Times of London, through environment reporter Lewis Smith, is noting for January 16, 2008, the details of what is being characterized as a “giant rat” fossil find in South America. The skull of the rodent is 53cm long. The creature had huge incisors that may have been used for felling trees or fighting. Reconstruction of the largest fossil rodent, Josephoartigasia monesi. The fossilised skull of a rat the size of a car has been unearthed. The creature lived about four million years ago, weighed about a tonne and ate mostly soft vegetation. It was [...]

Hobbits, Ebu Gogo, and Orang Pendek

History Channel’s “MonsterQuest” is going to be investigating the socalled “real Hobbits” in their episode premiering on January 16th, 2008, at 10PM ET. The official summary of the program notes: “A MonsterQuest expedition will deploy researchers and the latest technology into the jungle, searching for evidence of a creature natives describe as half man, half ape.” This will be cryptozoologist Adam Davies (author of a forthcoming Anomalist Books title), who will be leading the “MonsterQuest” crew on an investigation of Orang Pendek activities, for one part of the program. Various cryptids and related hominoids discussed will be the “Hobbits” (i.e. [...]

Ten New Anoles and Salamanders Discovered

A total of ten new herpetology species have been announced from the Central American highlands in recent months, through new 2008 papers. Discussion of three of the new salamanders previously took place here, at Cryptomundo. Today, five images of four of the six new anoles and one new salamander are shared. Anolis pseudopachypus Anolis pseudokemptoni Anolis gruuo Anolis datzorum Oedipina fortunensis, a new salamander. A new 2008 paper in Herpetologica has announced and described the discovery of new anoles and new salamander species several months ago. Four of the new anoles were found in the Serrania de Tabasara, Panamanian highlands [...]

Staying On Track: 2008’s Forthcoming Cryptozoology Books

A new year is always exciting, for no telling what it holds. New species to be discovered? Of course. New cryptid sightings? Certainly. New cryptozoology books being published? Needless to say. The Top Cryptozoology Books of 2007 have been picked and discussed, so it is time to look to the future. There, indeed, are hints of many new cryptozoology books on the horizon. Let me split them between the nonfiction and cryptofiction. Cryptozoology Nonfiction Titles Ivan T. Sanderson’s classic book, Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life has been republished by Cosimo in 2008, with a new preface. I have already [...]

Classic Yeti Images

With the death of Sir Edmund Hillary and Yeti images of the photographs from that era (1950s and 1960s), insights into the evolution of how the Abominable Snowmen were viewed can be considered through the lenses of time and distance. The first image shared here (click on Perkins Yeti) is the 1960 lifesize drawing shown by then-Lincoln Park Zoo director Marlin Perkins before the World Book expedition to the Himalayas with Sir Edmund Hillary. (This may be different than the large cutout Perkins showed on “Wild Kingdom” in 1963, or it may be the same one.) Below is the slightly [...]