Out of Place

New Asian Species

More species are being found, anew, in south Asia. We can hardly keep up with the announcements. Here’s a quick overview with some photos and links to the source articles. A new species of freshwater stringray (pictured here) has been discovered in Thailand. One of the discoveries was the remarkable Himanturan kittipongi, a new species of freshwater stringray from Thailand. Meanwhile, in Laos, six new species of frogs have been found. One is shown. Laos is the least densely populated country in Asia and has produced a treasure trove of wildlife discoveries during recent years. Rana khalam is one of [...]

Molunkus Monster

Bangor Daily Whig and Courier Bangor, Maine January 19, 1887 WHAT WAS IT? A Strange Animal Seen Near Molunkus Mr. A. J. Darling, the well known keeper of the Exchange Hotel at Enfield, writes the Whig as follows: A lumberman by the name of Fowler started from South Molunkus, December 19th.[,] to go into his camp, five miles away. After going part of the distance he was stopped by a strange animal in the road which disputed the right of way with him. Having no weapon with which to enforce his own rights Mr. Fowler returned to Molunkus and passed [...]

Thunderbird Spotting

In response to my recent Cryptomundo posting about unusual birds showing up in North Dakota, cryptozoologist Matt Bille, author of Rumors of Existence …and his forthcoming Spring 2006 sequel, Shadows of Existence, comments (remarks reproduced with permission) thusly: When the topic of birds comes up, I always puzzle over the contrast between the amazing ability of birders to spot – and report – small accidentals and their apparent inability to spot Thunderbirds the size of Piper Cubs. With all respect to those who have done work in this field (Coleman, Hall, etc.) I remain convinced this is strong evidence no [...]

Precursor to a Weird Summer?

What’s up with the birds in North Dakota? In the last two weeks, birders have seen, and in some cases, photographed, eight different species of birds not seen in the states for years or decades or, as it turns out, ever. These include sightings of a mountain plover (not seen in North Dakota since the 1930s), a Eurasian wigeon, two great black-backed gulls, an anhinga, a mountain chickadee, a gray jay, a red-shouldered hawk and an eastern meadowlark. Eight accidentals in two weeks is remarkable. “Typically, maybe one or two a month over a year. To see eight in two [...]

Jersey Devil and Ivan T. Sanderson

One January night in 1909, E. P. Weeden of the Trenton, New Jersey City Council bolted upright in bed when he heard someone trying to break down his door. It was a most unusual “someone,” apparently, because Weeden also heard distinctly the sound of flapping wings. Councilman Weeden rushed to his second-floor window and looked outside. He did not see the intruder, but the sight that greeted his eyes chilled him far more than the icy temperature ever could: In the snow on the roof of his house something had left a line of tracks. And whatever that “something” was, [...]

Prominent Pennsylvania Puma Seeker Dies

Cryptomundo Exclusive Obituary On Saturday, February 18, 2006, at 6:05 AM, in Pennsylvania, one of the country’s best-kept-secrets, a modest but renowned behind-the-scenes eastern cougar hunter passed away. Roger Cowburn, 77, of Potter County, Pennsylvania, died. Roger Cowburn of Galeton, Pennslyvania, is a member of the Eastern Puma Research Network, a group actively searching for evidence that eastern panthers are still found in parts of eastern North America. (G. Parker) The Penn State’s Nittany Lions are nationally known, mostly as a football team. But the “Nittany Lions” didn’t pop out of the air as a name. Nittany is the mountain [...]