Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman

New Species of Tropical Pacific Beaked Whale?

In the latest edition of Marine Mammal Science there is an article about a likely new species of Mesoplodon (a beaked whale). As Robert Pitman says in an email tonight, “the last two years two new species of dolphins were also described in the pages of MMS – snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) and costero (Sotalia guianensis). Genetics has revolutionized cetacean systematics – talk about cryptic species!” The new Marine Mammal Science, 23(4): 954–966 (October 2007), carries an article entitled “A Divergent mtDNA Linegage Among Mesoplodon Beaked Whales: Molecular Evidence for a New Species in the Tropical Pacific?” by Merel L. [...]

Dwarf Killer Whale Discovered in Antarctica

A new paper written by Robert Pitman of the NOAA Fisheries – Ecosystem Studies Program and his colleagues provides evidence that there is at least one new species of killer whale in Antarctica. In a new 2007 issue of Journal of Mammalogy, the article’s following abstract summarizes their findings: In the early 1980s, 2 groups of Soviet scientists independently described 1, possibly 2 new dwarf species of killer whales (Orcinus) from Antarctica. We used aerial photogrammetry to determine total length (TL) of 221 individual Type C killer whales—a fish-eating ecotype that inhabits dense pack ice—in the southern Ross Sea in [...]

Suttons, Flatwoods & Oompah-Loompahs

One reason [the Flatwoods Monster case] might remind you of the Kelly goblins is the name “Sutton.” It’s the town next to Flatwoods and the name of the family that was besieged one night by goblins, aliens, eagle owls or Oompah-Loompahs.Robert Schneck, November 6, 2007. Don Getty, River Otters, Grand Tetons. Used with full permission of Mr. Getty. Images and laughter sometimes are worth a thousand words.

The Flatwoods Monster Decoded

The date was September 12, 1952. The place, Flatwoods, West Virginia. On that crisp fall day, Kathleen May (pictured), Eugene Lemon, 17, Neal Nunley, 14, Eddie May, 13, Teddie May, 14, Ronald Shaver, 10, Teddie Neal, 10, Tommy Hyer, 10, and Lemon’s big old dog, climbed to the top of a hill and saw a “monster.” They immediately felt they had to run, as fast as they could, someplace. The huge dark figure with glowing eyes and a head “like the ace of spades” blocked their path. About 12 feet high (4 meters), the figure had a reddish face and [...]

Heuvelmans Bio Takes Grand Prix

Jean-Jacques Barloy, who wrote in French the beautiful biography “Bernard Heuvelmans, un rebelle de la science” (1st volume of the “Bibliothèque Heuvelmansienne,” Editions de l’Oeil du Sphinx, juin 2007) – Bernard Heuvelmans: A Rebel of Science – won the “Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2008″ (category essay), it was announced on Friday, November 3, 2007. Jean-Jacques Barloy is shown with some of Alika Lindbergh’s paintings behind him. Lindbergh was Heuvelmans partner/lover during the last part of his life, and her paintings are frequently seen as the covers of his books. The grand prize winners were awarded during the Nantes International Science [...]