Replica Cryptia

Cryptozoology on MSN

I guess it has been there all day, but someone just told me about it. If you go to the MSN Homepage for today, and look over to the left hand side, scroll down a bit, you will find a photo of me in front of my Bigfoot. Click on that picture, and it goes to a new video at History’s “MonsterQuest” site in which I am talking about cryptozoology. The b-roll shows various objects in the museum. (Hey, if someone places this MSN video on YouTube, I’ll post it here. Right now, Cryptomundo does not have the technology to [...]

Montauk Monster Replica

Guess what just showed up on eBay? Yep, a replica of the Montauk Monster. It looks very well done, nice color tones, and a good representation of the weekend wonder, if you ask me. The fake is above and the photo of the real deal is below. This is something I definitely want for the International Cryptozoology Museum. Considering I coined the name, perhaps I could get a discount? According to the notice at eBay (I’ve edited it for spelling and grammar): “Finally own this piece of history. BMFX FX Studios is proud to present this custom made prop. Made [...]

New At The Museum

All the donations to the museum are not fiscal. Here is a sampling of some recent acquisitions contributed to the International Cryptozoology Museum. Jeff H. Johnson-painted new Thylacine model. The Teslin, Yukon, “Sasquatch” hair samples from Dr. David Coltman, University of Alberta. Coltman published the scientific paper discussing how the sample turned out to be bison hair. A large display replica of a mammoth. A new original oil painting of Yeti by artist Alex Evans. Thanks to the donors! ======= Please join 150 others who have supported the museum with your donation today. Know you may directly send a check, [...]

Kids & Cryptozoology: Alberta Style

I enjoy leading workshops with children, of course, because future cryptozoologists are out there. Recently, in Alberta, some kids got to attend a “dragons day camp.” While there, I spoke to them about cryptozoology on a Monday. Here I am, looking as if a wood bison is about ready to charge me. What’s so incredible about having so many taxidermy-available wood bison in one place is that the Royal Alberta Museum even has one in their children’s classroom. I was honored to be able to write “Cryptozoology” on the work board, as a wood bison graced the same space. Here’s [...]

Saigas, Mammoths, and Pleistocene Parks

Travel with me today, from the concept of prehistoric trunked animals to the future establishment of Pleistocene Parks in Siberia and America. Regarding artist William Munns’ reconstruction theories about trunked dinosaurs, he observes, “In the matter of comparative anatomy with existent species, no existent skulls are identical, but two types do have nares at the top of the skull. One group are the cetaceans (porpoise and whales). The other are the Proboscidians (elephants).” As Munns points out, interestingly, “in mammals, the presumption of a trunk is freely given to any skull with high nares.” The macraucheniid litoptern is assumed to [...]

Cadborosaurus willsi Revisited

Due to the new sighting of Ogopogo, it was only a matter of time before someone would begin wondering what happened to Caddy, Cadborosaurus willsi, the Sea Serpent of Cadboro Bay, off British Columbia. Victoria’s Times Colonist ran an update today. According to Paul Leblond, a retired University of British Columbia oceanography professor and author a 1995 book on the Cadborosaurus, Caddy was last spotted several years ago off the shores of Galiano Island. “The search is still ongoing,” Leblond (pictured below) told a reporter. Leblond said Jason Walton, vice-president of the B.C. Scientific Cryptozoology Club, keeps a video camera [...]

Pondering the Aardvark

Why is the aardvark of some importance to cryptozoology, you might be wondering? In my revised slide show on the history of cryptozoology, I have one on the life of the “Father of Cryptozoology,” noting Bernard Heuvelmans, with the line: “Doctorate, aardvark’s teeth.” Bernard Heuvelmans’ 1939 thesis was dedicated to the classification of the hitherto unclassifiable teeth of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer), the African “anteater.” Of course, today we know the aardvark is not closely related to the South and Central American anteaters, at all, but it wasn’t always so. Aardvark is Afrikaans/Dutch for “earth pig.” Heuvelmans’ work helped to [...]