Cryptozoology

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Cryptozoology

Reconstruction of an alleged Ogopogosighting
Cryptozoology (from Greek κρυπτός, kryptos, "hidden" + zoology; literally, "study ofhidden animals") refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven. This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs; animalswhose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot andChupacabra;[1] and wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, suchas phantom cats (also known as Alien Big Cats).
The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983.[2]
Cryptozoology is not a recognized branchof zoology or a discipline of science.[1] It is an example of pseudoscience because it relies heavily upon anecdotal evidence, stories and alleged sightings.[3][4][5]-------------------------------------------------
[edit]Overview

Dr. Karl Shuker is a prominent British zoologist who studies cryptids.
The coining of the word cryptozoology is often attributed to Belgian-French zoologist BernardHeuvelmans, though Heuvelmans attributes coinage of the term to the late Scottish explorer and adventurer Ivan T. Sanderson.[6] Heuvelmans' 1955 book On the Track of Unknown Animals traces thescholarly origins of the discipline to Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans and his 1892 study, The Great Sea Serpent.[7]Heuvelmans argued that cryptozoology should be undertaken with scientific rigor, but with anopen-minded, interdisciplinary approach. He also stressed that attention should be given to local, urban andfolkloric sources regarding such creatures, arguing that while often layered in unlikely andfantastic elements, folktales can have small grains of truth and important information regarding undiscovered organisms. Phantom cats (an example of living animals supposedly found outside of their...