Cryptozoology

Death by Sea Serpent?

In response to my “Sea Serpent Snatching?” blog, cryptozoologist Matt Bille, author of 2006′s Shadows of Existence, sent along a comment. He mentioned that there has been only one known case of the possible killing of humans by a Sea Serpent. I asked Matt to expand on this, and submit a guest blog on the account. He agreed and you will find his welcome overview of the incident below. Matt with a friend. Matt Bille’s contribution on this intriguing Sea Serpent case follows. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Death by Sea Serpent? By Matt Bille In the modern history of “sea serpents,” we have [...]

Extinct Parrot Found

This is a story about finding hidden treasures right before your eyes, in this case (pun intended), the beautiful Paradise Parrot of Australia. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The University of Aberdeen Zoology Museum (UK) has taken care of a case of mounted Australian birds, one of which is the spectacular but sadly extinct Paradise Parrot (Psephotus pulcherrimus). Nature-lover Michael Middleton, from the [Aberdeen] city centre, donated the exotic birds after the case that held them developed woodworm. It prompted him to scan the internet for more information on the assortment of stuffed birds, totalling three parrots, a pardalote, a kookaburra, a wild budgie [...]

Great Auk

Chad Arment’s Coachwhip Publications has announced the release of The Great Auk, or Garefowl. Below is Arment’s overview of the contents. Grieve’s classic text on the Great Auk provides a wealth of information on early knowledge of this extinct bird: records of specimens (birds and eggs), lists of former breeding-grounds, and stories from sailors and explorers who had first-hand sightings of the auks before they disappeared. Discussion ranges from archaeology to etymology: where the garefowl got its name. (And, are they the true “penguins”?) First published in 1885, this scarce reprint brings back to light the detailed scholarship of one [...]

Euro Stego

One of the first dinosaur names that all dino-crazy kids (myself included) learns to pronounce and links to pictures of that tiny-headed, plates-on-the-back image is the “Stegosaurus.” This is the kind of chart presently found on Strategic Transitions learning software that will soon have to be revised. Ask any kid interested in dinosaurs: Where are Stegosaurus found? The answer always has been: The American West, of course. That response is no longer true. News services from China to the USA are flashing the new discovery of a Stegosaurus in Portugal. This recent finding of the first Stegosaurus fossil in Europe [...]

Berkshire Beast Blarney?

A copy (above) of an allegedly actual mountain lion (puma, cougar) track sold commercially by Acorn Products. As you may recall, in the recent posting entitled “Eastern Cougar Catfights”, I discussed the on-going battles between the older pro-eastern felid group, Eastern Puma Research Network (EPRN), and the newer more debunking Eastern Cougar Foundation (ECF). ECF member and mushroom expert Joseph Lankalis has “demanded” that I publish his contribution below, before it goes up on the eastern cougar page. To demonstrate how personal this feud has become, sure, I’ll post this. Lankalis’ argument may have some merit but the way he [...]

Sea Serpent Snatching?

Recently in response to my blog about the San Francisco Bay Sea Serpent, one comment maker wrote in to mention this news item: By now everyone who is connected by radio, tv, internet or newspaper is aware that James Gray of Microsoft has just disappeared from the face of the earth while expertly sailing his 40ft sailboat on a day cruise under nearly perfect condition, through very well known waters, to the Farallon Islands. Speculation as to his whereabouts is wide-open and even the most serious and likely suggestions underscore just how slight is the ability of our human perceptions [...]

Oudemans’ Classic Resurfaces

You can go online today and find a copy of A.C. Oudemans’ The Great Sea-Serpent for $3705 US. The book is very rare, having been published first in 1892, by E. J. Brill in Leiden and by Luzac & Co. in London. Soon, a much more reasonably-priced edition will be available. The reprinting of the classic cryptozoological text, The Great Sea Serpent by Antoon C. Oudemans, has been in the works for months, with a new introduction by Loren Coleman. It will be published late in February, with an official publication date of March 1, 2007. This book is being [...]

“Chupacabras”: Mystery Solved?

Over at Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, our Cryptomundo friend and C2C webmaster Lex Lonehood posted a photograph (above) from Ben Poledna, who had a story to tell. Poledna has given his permission for me to post it here, as I know a bit about the story behind the “thing” in the gentleman’s photograph. Poledna wrote: On January 27th, I attended the Ft. Worth Stock Show And Rodeo. There was an Old Man standing next to this small white tent claiming to have a real Chupacabras and admission was only $1, so I payed and went in and [...]