A question about cryptids...?

Question

Consider that as of 1901, the okapi and the komodo dragon, two animals well-documented in science today, were not recognized by Western science. They were believed to be nothing more than fictitious legends of the local people. Thinking about this makes me believe that it is only a question of time before some of our present-day cryptids are discovered to be in fact real. Which cryptids do you believe are most likely to turn out to be real, and what do you think their real scientific explanation will be? Personally, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Jersey Devil is discovered to be in fact a species of giant bat (interestingly, the hammerhead bat of West Africa bears a lot of similarities to the JD). I also believe that it is entirely possible that someday we discover that some of the ape-like cryptids (Bigfoot, Skunk Ape, etc) are proven to be real members of the primate family. I'm curious what anyone else thinks.

Answer 1

There are all kinds of animals being found all over the place.  You cruise any of the cryptid websites or just take a glance and the world news and they're all over the place.

Biggest reasons that the ape cryptids aren't being "found" is the obvious, that anything found is seen as either bull or an anomaly. Also there are a whole whole lot of amateur "researchers" out there that may find this or that but don't know the proper way of keeping a hair sample or taking down evidence properly.

This of course makes the whole look like they don't know what the h**l they're doing and so on.

Also, think about how finding a large ape species in different areas would effect things such as game hunting, logging, and so on.  

I know several reliable researchers (I know I'll get laughs for that statement) that have had experiences with game and fish enforcement when it came to their research and also different encounters that people have reported to them.

Basically, no one is ever going to truly believe in anything until its documented or they have an encounter.  I know I didn't.

Answer 2

Well, as a long time student of cryptozoology, I agree that there are still animals waiting to be discovered out there. In recent decades the megamouth shark and the discoveries out of Vietnam show that.

However, that being said, I think the chances for things like bigfoot, the Jersey Devil, the loch ness monster, fall into the realm of folklore, sociology,  and psychology. I would be surprised if any of these 'classic' urban cryptids turned out to have  a basis in fact at this point. (Too many darn security cameras not spotting them is already almost impossible to explain just for starters.)

I've blogged about bigfoot:

http://unitedcats.wordpress.com/2007/01/...

Like they spotted this mysterious animal on film  for example:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/myst...

Answer 3

I think your example is good reasoning for expecting that new animals will continue to be discovered. As for specific instances of purported cryptozoological creatures, e.g., the Jersey Devil, Bigfoot/Yeti/Skunk Ape, Nessie, etc., there isn't a logical reason that these MUST be proven real over time. They may not exist at all. In my opinion, it's extremely doubtful that they do, at least in the form that current legends describe them.  So while I agree with you that we'll be discovering new animals in the future, I don't think it's very likely that we'll be confirming the existence of the cryptozoological creatures you mentioned.

Answer 4

In the study of cryptozoology, a cryptid is any animal or creature that has been reported to have existed, but has not been proven to. The literal meaning of the word is "the study of hidden animals". Their presumed existence is often derived from anecdotal evidence and/or other evidence insufficient to prove their existence with scientific certainty. Cryptids are also uncommonly known by the term Unidentified Mysterious Animals or UMA, an intended variation on the popular term UFO. The English use of the term was coined by John E. Wall in 1983 and has been used ever since to describe the creatures which are the focus of cryptozoology.[1] The term cryptid may include creatures such as the Yeti, Thunderbird or Loch Ness Monster, or relict animals (once presumed extinct) such as the coelacanth. The term is also used to describe now confirmed animals such as the okapi, once thought to be a fictional animal until it was discovered in the early 1900s.

Cryptids have existed for many ages, although earlier cryptids such as the griffin or dragon, are by and large considered mythical creatures which have never existed other than in popular fiction. Early cryptids include creatures such as the Kraken, which have now entered into legend as fictious entities or have since been debunked and attributed to exaggerated sightings of creatures unknown in earlier times. Other cryptids include those which were known to man, but have since been pronounced extinct, as was the case with the moa and thylacine which are both reported to be living today. Despite the large number of reported cryptids, most are never proven and a large portion are debunked through thorough scientific investigation.

Answer 5

I hope you're right but I'm not optimistic.It's a much smaller world then 1901.Chances of finding any animals larger then a small dog are slim.As a resident of NJ,I can tell you.There is no Jersey Devil it's a supernatural legend.There's some  wild country here but it's well traveled and there's not much of it.There are some unique people living there.They keep to themselves but they're people not apes.I think the sea may be the best chance.Bigfoot,Nessie,those things,there's not much chance they're real.Maybe I'm wrong.I hope so.

Answer 6

Kimodo dragons are large lizards.  They are easy to find if you're on the island of Kimodo.  I seriously doubt Western science said in 1900 that Kimodo dragons didn't exist.  If anything, they may have said they will not recognize any species until it has been found, examined and classified.  So I'm sorry, but your anti-science story doesn't hold up.

"Thinking about this makes me believe that it is only a question of time before some of our present-day cryptids are discovered to be in fact real."

Well, when they're discovered, examined and classified then they will be real.  But until they are found then they're nothing more than myth and legend.

As it is, you appear to be saying that all creatures claimed real are real based on that claim.  (Perusing the Wiki list of cryptids makes me wonder if you really believe this.)  With this very loose definition of the word "real" what couldn't be real?  Are mermaids real?  What about unicorns?  Griffins?  Centaurs?  Monitors?  Moderate Republicans?