Cryptozoology

The Cryptozoology sees itself as a field of zoology that tracks and investigates hidden animals before humans. It was founded around the year 1950 by the zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans and publicists.

It sees itself as a branch of biology and crypto divided among others in the Dracontologie that deals with Wasserkryptidien that Hominologie dealing with ape-men, and the Mythological in cryptozoology that explores the history of mythical creatures.

In addition to approximately 1.5 million known species, there are an unknown number of undiscovered and undescribed species. There are scientists who accept an underreporting of more than 15 million species of animals. The majority of these species are known animal groups, such as the arthropods (insects, spiders), suspected and have little to do with cryptozoology.

Work areas

The Cryptozoology is rather the proof of existence of large animals interested, are located outside of the existing classification schemes or which are considered long been extinct. An example of a formerly regarded as extinct order is the coelacanth. In addition, there are reports of relatively large animals that are considered locally known or mentioned in folklore, but are ignored by the traditional zoology due to lack of concrete evidence of their existence. Cryptozoologists like to point out that the Komodo dragon could form the background of Asian dragon legends. In addition, demonstrate the relatively new descriptions of the Javan Rhino from Vietnam or the Vietnamese forest cattle, also known as Vu Quang ox, that there are still undiscovered larger animal species in the world. In particular, remote and unexplored areas, such as the deep sea, may still have unknown larger animal species. However, should this clear dividing lines are drawn, because if a new species is discovered, it is simply about a newly discovered creatures, not cryptids. For instance, the coelacanth was not a Kryptide, because he was totally discovered by chance while he was only a big fish for the locals, who knew him long and sometimes even began. Many today are quite well -known creatures were known even in the early 20th century only partly fantastic stories, such as the mountain gorilla, whose actual existence has been widely questioned until its existence was demonstrated by researchers and hunters. From other was known long time no live specimen, but only individual skins, skulls and body parts such as the Okapi or the Congo peacock.

The (former) International Society of Cryptozoology ( ISC) campaigned for recognition as a serious science. In the German speaking this task was taken over in the spring of 2005, the Association for crypto- zoological research. However, this was now resolved.

Cryptids

Cryptozoologists suggest that reports of animals that are normally associated with fantasy and mythical creatures, in some cases, still undiscovered animal species are based. This they call cryptids. They can be classified into five groups, which are of cryptozoology as a classification basis:

Unknown Animals

It is unknown organisms that differ from all known animal species. Due to their description and their behavior, they can not fit into the existing zoological system. This group includes mainly organisms, which are known from mythology. They are also called Unidentified Mysterious Animals ( UMA), so called unidentified, myteriöse animals.

Potentially extinct animals

In this group are classified cryptids that are considered extinct in the current state of science. These include modern forms of dinosaurs or pterosaurs, but also species held their extinction before the historical period, such as the Moa or as extinct in the 19th century, the New Zealand Giant Gecko Hoplodactylus delcourti that is described in the Maori legends in dragon -like form as Kawekaweau will. Also, the Tasmanian wolf belongs in this group, this is not considered as definitely extinct.

Animals, similar to the known species

This group includes species that known species are very similar, but differ by specific characteristics of them. It may be mutations or unknown relatives of these animals. A position in the system of zoology can be made according to difficulty. Examples of animals in this group are about the Onza or the forest elephant. Sometimes, individual or groups of animals are disfigured by disease so that they are held for entirely different nature, such as massive mange.

Described animals, which is not getting hold of the science

These are the true cryptids. They are scientifically named and defined, documented by photo or drawing, but lack of museum types material. The Okapi was one for a while to, as you initially had only ( inaccurate ) photos. In addition to numerous invertebrates, including several species of fish here ( as Bathysphaera intacta ' Bathyembix istiophasma ') who wants to have 1932-34 observed from his deep ball ichthyologist William Beebe, he also published that could be since then not again seen or even caught but so that they now sometimes classifies as fantasy products.

Known Animals in unusual places

A large group of crypto- zoological observations refers to known species, however, are sighted in for them entirely atypical habitats. Such cases are titled with the name " Out of Place Sightings ," which means as much as sighting the wrong place. So there are regular reports of tigers and leopards in the UK. In these cases it is essential to elucidate whether it is exposed or lost animals or whether there is a real population of the animals at these places.

Origins of mythical creatures

Even with the origins and backgrounds of mythological beings, the cryptozoology is concerned. But It is not a question to prove the former existence of giants, dragons or griffins. The goal is to find the actual roots of legendary figures that go back in many cases to any actual or extinct, but by no means mysterious creatures. An example would be the Cyclops, a one-eyed giant of Greek mythology, the origins of which are due most likely to found in caves skulls of extinct dwarf elephant whose big nose opening was held for an eye socket. Another example would be the Egyptian dead bird Benu, possibly going back to the extinct giant heron Ardea bennuides.

More recently discovered large animals

The very late first scientific description of these large animals is led by cryptozoologists again and again as evidence that not all the great beasts have been discovered even today.