Men in Cryptozoology

Wiki Weirdness & WV’s Winged Wonder

Okay, the news organizations’ election primary attention shifts to West Virginia today, Tuesday, May 13th, so let’s talk Mothman. Actually, I’m going to use this opportunity to note the sinister editing that regularly takes place at the Wikipedia entry for “Mothman.” I’ve been watching the site because some incredible “political” inputs have occurred with the “Mothman” entry, apparently by skeptics and debunkers inserting words like “claims” and deleting large sections of information. I did not write any of the section, but have dipped in to correct citations, edit slanted words out, and to try to remove mistakes. But what I [...]

Dynamic Discoverer of Ants Dies

Roy Snelling (1934-2008). Cryptozoologically, insects are not really in the realm of animals that Bernard Heuvelmans, myself and others strictly defined as of interest to the field, but nevertheless, we must admire those toiling to make the new discoveries of all those little animals out there that remain to be described. One such giant in that arena of insects is to be celebrated in his passing. For many of us, our first intrigue may have been with the tiny crawling and flying things found around our backyards, and for some, such as this explorer of the kingdom of ants, the [...]

Celebrity Naming of Cryptids

His name is Bond, Jason Bond. Names are important, and Eastern Carolina University professor of biology Jason Bond has decided to name a new spider he discovered after his favorite musician. You may have already heard the story. It made me wonder after whom various Cryptomundians would name cryptids found to be new species? Heuvelmans? Sanderson? Meldrum? And tied to what cryptids? Bond’s newly discovered trapdoor spider has officially been name Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. Above is a male specimen of Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi living in Santa Rosa Co., Florida. (Credit: American Museum of Natural History) “There are rather strict rules about how [...]

Cryptids at Maine Student Book Award Celebration

The Maine Student Book Award Celebration (MSBAC) takes on a decidedly cryptozoological flavor this year. As you read this, I’m in northern Maine, in a secret location filled with librarians and children, getting ready or presently talking about cryptozoology, cryptids, and leading workshops with the kids on casting footprints during a full-day gathering. Actually, other than kidding about the “secret location,” all the rest is true. The MSBAC is occurring on Monday, May 5, 2008, in Penobscot, and I’m there right now, as this is being remotely posted. I’m on site with their out-of-state guest of honor, Kelly Milner Halls, [...]

Gilroy Associate Announces Tracks

Rex Gilroy’s earlier Karumba, Australia, track find. An individual only identifying himself as “ausiepath9,” who serves as a spokesperson for the Gilroys of Australia, is posting around the web that “Fresh Moa Tracks” have been discovered in New Zealand. This associate shares this week that “Rex and Heather have returned from New Zealand and have many new discoveries to show” in the future, including “the Moa tracks Rex discovered.” Ausiepath9 relates that a “few years back” Rex Gilroy “discovered a small scrub Moa track(s) [sic] up-to 20 in leaf-mould..of which two were cast.” But the latest tracks are apparently different: [...]