Snowflake Challenge 10: Five Things

[ysabetwordsmith]

Snowflake Challenge #10: Five Things

Five Things! The five things are totally up to you. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.




My Five Most Favorite Cryptids

Cryptobiology is the study of lifeforms that may or may not exist in the modern world. It includes attempts to pin down creatures considered mythical and species considered extinct that still have unverified sightings. Also, cryptobiology is a real science that uses scientific methods in these search attempts. Calling it pseudoscience is data-cropping -- especially when you consider the significant list of cryptids that have been verified. For an example of seeking possibly-not-extinct species, see Extinct or Alive.

1) Thylacine (aka Tasmanian wolf). Marsupial predator about the size of a wolf. Known to exist, widely believed extinct, but sightings persist. Claimed sightings have not been confirmed.

2) Ivory-billed woodpecker. Large woodpecker with a pale beak. Known to exist, widely believed exinct, but sightings persist. Last confirmed sighting in 2004. Most claimed sightings are indistinct and difficult to verify. As they live in old-growth forests, often swamps, and have far-flung territories they have always been very hard to spot.

3) Loch Ness Monster. The archetypal freshwater lake monster. Unusual for cryptids, the many sightings do not agree on general parameters but instead form several clusters (e.g. sea serpent-like, plesiosaur-like). While it is implausible for there to be a viable population of truly giant creatures going unnoticed, the frequency of sightings suggests that there may be "something" out there unverified by science. That is a big, old, deep lake that likes to keep its secrets.

4) Silphium. One of the few cryptids that is a plant rather than an animal, this was a relative of giant fennel. Known to exist, widely believed extinct, exact nature lost to history. Possibly rediscovered; debate continues.

5) Mokele-Mbembe. A dinosaur-like animal from the Republic of Congo. Unverified, but occasional reports persist. While it's hard to hide a truly giant creature, a jungle is a good place to hide things, even fairly large things.

EDIT 1/19/24 -- I forgot to include the Pictish Beast! It has a long snout and legs or flippers that coil at the ends. "The Happiness of the Bee" includes a brief appearance, and its notes have a description with an excellent photograph.

+ 1) My favorite book about cryptids is Mirabile by Janet Kagan.


Read about more cryptids. What are some of your favorite cryptids?

Comments

[tjs_whatnot]

I feel about 10% smarter right now (and I haven't even gotten out of bed yet!)

That is a phrase I have heard before and had a completely erroneous understanding of it based on the creatures I had most associated with it--mostly Cthulhu and The Kraken.

So thank you for this post. And now I can say, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, my favorite cryptid is Bigfoot. ❤️❤️

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I feel about 10% smarter right now (and I haven't even gotten out of bed yet!) <<

:D Well, you've validated my job satisfaction for the day!

>>That is a phrase I have heard before and had a completely erroneous understanding of it based on the creatures I had most associated with it--mostly Cthulhu and The Kraken.<<

Cthulhu is (insofar as I know) fictional in local-Earth.

The Kraken, however, relates to the colossal and giant squids. Imagine being in a kayak and finding one of those in the water. Dead, but you might not know that. A wave knocks a tentacle over your bow. You paddle back to shore as fast as you can, change your furpants, and tell everyone how it tried to eat you.

Meanwhile over in Terramagne, siliconshaman and I have written about a truly ancient squiddish character who is called Cthulhu from having saved Lovecraft from drowning that one time. :D

>> So thank you for this post. And now I can say, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, my favorite cryptid is Bigfoot. ❤️❤️

In that part of the world, Sasquatch. Here is one list of Bigfoot subtypes. There's a sighting map. I'm surprised by how many there are, and how close to me! This world map shows some of the names.

I had fun looking at all the Sasquatch things when I visited the Pacific Northwest. Get up in the Hoh Rainforest and it seems rather plausible.

[spiced_wine]

I’d like to believe the Thylacine does exist; you occasionally do hear of sightings. The Loch Ness Monster…as you say some of these lakes are incredibly deep and anciently formed, and Lake Monster sightings persist around the world. Lots of stories of divers seeing caves and the giant eel theory, etc.

I read of Silphium being used as a an almost miraculous medicinal remedy in the Bronze Age (in a novel) and it’s always fascinated me since then.

I enjoy occasionally popping onto forums where experienced hikers and campers in the bush or Australia or the vast wilderness areas of Alaska, Canada or the US report seeing strange things. I think sometimes unless we do that, we may not realise how immense these areas are and what might be there. (I have a fandom friend who told me of being in a small private plane and flying for hours over wilderness and seeing cabin with smoke coming from the chimney, no roads to or from it, just completely remote from anywhere).

I also find it interesting that the ancient Appalachian mountains have Bigfoot sightings and then there is the Am Fear Liath Mòr of Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms which is part of the same Pangaean Mountain chain which is unbelievably ancient.

I don’t think Alien Big Cats are a cryptid as such. I know two people who’ve seen one, (one is my uncle) but people hunting them seem to have no luck at all in finding any trace.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I’d like to believe the Thylacine does exist; you occasionally do hear of sightings. The Loch Ness Monster…as you say some of these lakes are incredibly deep and anciently formed, and Lake Monster sightings persist around the world. Lots of stories of divers seeing caves and the giant eel theory, etc.<<

I rather like the giant otter theory myself.

>> I read of Silphium being used as a an almost miraculous medicinal remedy in the Bronze Age (in a novel) and it’s always fascinated me since then.<<

It had a lot of uses, but chief among them was birth control.

>>I enjoy occasionally popping onto forums where experienced hikers and campers in the bush or Australia or the vast wilderness areas of Alaska, Canada or the US report seeing strange things. I think sometimes unless we do that, we may not realise how immense these areas are and what might be there. <<

I agree.

>> (I have a fandom friend who told me of being in a small private plane and flying for hours over wilderness and seeing cabin with smoke coming from the chimney, no roads to or from it, just completely remote from anywhere). <<

Well, there's a scale of "fuck off, everyone" that goes roughly:

* Drive in.

* Fly in (bushpilots can land in crazy places).

* Canoe in.

* Hike in.

There are still places hermits can go and not be bothered. You just have to be hardcore badass to live there.

>>I also find it interesting that the ancient Appalachian mountains have Bigfoot sightings and then there is the Am Fear Liath Mòr of Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms which is part of the same Pangaean Mountain chain which is unbelievably ancient.<<

Oh, now that is interesting. I had to look it up. There are Bigfoot type creatures reported around the world. Given the extent of the hominid family tree, this does not surprise me.

>>I don’t think Alien Big Cats are a cryptid as such. I know two people who’ve seen one, (one is my uncle) but people hunting them seem to have no luck at all in finding any trace.<<

That's because if cats don't want to be seen, they can fucking well disappear. The snow leopard is called the Ghost Cat for reasons. And they can appear out of nowhere too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=C5awzOUj0Bo

Of course, the authorities don't like to admit that there's a breeding population of big cats because that scares people. There have been over a hundred sightings in Illinois. 0_o By this point, people who live near wilderness areas just ignore the authorities. I've found bobcat tracks in our nearest wilderness. If I see a cat track the size of my hand, fuck it, I'm hightailing it back to the car.

[stardust_rifle]

I’m very skeptical on most cryptids, but I do love the Ningen even if I don’t think it’s real. It freaks me the fuck out.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I’m very skeptical on most cryptids, <<

I encourage everyone to explore the materials and draw their own conclusions. Just bear in mind that sizes and traits may not be all that accurate. At least one "howler" type cryptid turned out to be an owl with a loud voice and weird ear tufts.

>> but I do love the Ningen even if I don’t think it’s real. It freaks me the fuck out. <<

I find the bipedal form dubious but not impossible. Most of its implausibility comes from the fact that it doesn't match Antarctica's other landlife, it's too big and tall. The aquatic version is much more plausible. It wouldn't even be the first with a face.

[tildytwo]

I'd love to believe that there are still thylacines out there—I know they are (were) wild animals, but they're so friend-shaped.

My favorite cryptid is the dungavenhooter. They're such wacky little creatures. (heh. whacky.)

[pronker]

Thanks for the link. *adds this critter to her list of cryptids*

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'd love to believe that there are still thylacines out there—I know they are (were) wild animals, but they're so friend-shaped.<<

It's hard not to love something that can smile clear back to its ears. :D

Also I can't help thinking, if we had more thylacines, we might not have such a raging problem with rabbits.

>> My favorite cryptid is the dungavenhooter. They're such wacky little creatures. (heh. whacky.) <<

I hadn't heard of that one! Whacky is a good word for it.

One thing that intrigues me about cryptids is watching for clues about known animal behavior. For instance, a preference for drunk prey is a trait of the "active scavenger" category -- animals that usually eat dead food but will attack a live, disabled animal.

[pronker]

Marvelous post! Heuvelmans and Sanderson enthralled me from a young age, so cryptids remain a lifelong interest. I've yesterday rewatched Forrest Galante searching swamps for the ivory, which brought a possible sighting from a trail cam. Gotta say, his methods proved impressive.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Forrest Galante really is a genius. He uses everything from ultra-high-tech (e.g. DNA sequencing) to ultra-low-tech (e.g. goat heads, duct tape). Clearly he can think like all different kinds of animals. He pisses people off, but I give zero fucks because the man gets results. He has not only found multiple lost species, he has hounded governments into protecting their habitat.

I think I've seen the video of the ivory-billed woodpecker. I found it highly plausible. The one I saw wasn't very clear, but process of elimination -- well, there isn't really anything else that size and flight pattern in that habitat. It was obviously way too big to be any other woodie.

[brumeier]

What a fun list! On the one hand, with how small the world feels these days, and all the drone mapping and whatnot, it seems unlikely that some of the larger cryptids like Nessie are really out there. On the other hand, there are still so many discoveries being made - animals, insects, plant life, caves - so who really knows? It's nice to think there are still some unknowable things out there.

Bigfoot has to be my top cryptid, just based on the number of sightings around the world and footprint and whatnot. I used to love watching Destination Truth, which featured cryptid searches of all variety. They never did find what they were looking for, but I think one time they did find evidence of a bear previously thought to be extinct.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> What a fun list! <<

Yay!

>> On the one hand, with how small the world feels these days, and all the drone mapping and whatnot,<<

Watch "Extinct or Alive" and then consider how accessible some of those places are, or not. Canada has completely lost control of the interior regarding wildfires.

>> it seems unlikely that some of the larger cryptids like Nessie are really out there.<<

An important thing to consider is "How big was that fish?" When you can't lay a measuring tape on something, then estimating its size is difficult if not impossible. In an area with other visual landmarks, you might manage to ballpark it. In the water, you are flat-out guessing. So while a house-sized Nessie is increasingly implausible, something the size of a giant otter or a ribbonfish is a lot more plausible.

>> On the other hand, there are still so many discoveries being made - animals, insects, plant life, caves - so who really knows? <<

Yep.

>> It's nice to think there are still some unknowable things out there.<<

There are definitely unknowable things out there. Listen to any marine biologist complaining about things that appeared on a submersible camera for 3 seconds, or something big that they only caught a flipper of that didn't match any known species at all, or worse -- all the unidentifiable animal sounds picked up by the watermike but not the camera. I suspect that the benthic zone is mostly cryptids.

[mxcatmoon]

Yay, another Destination Truth fan! I still watch DT pretty regularly; it was such a fun show! And you know they weren't faking anything (as Mike put it, "no one is better at almost catching monsters than us"). I think it's a shame more people haven't discovered that show. The humor, banter among the crew, and travel adventures put it far above most cryptid hunter shows. IMHO there has never been another crypid or paranormal show like it.

[dhamphir]

What a cool post! I had fun reading the links! As for whether a number of cryptids are real? Well, it's damn hard to prove a negative. So unless someone actually gets prositive proof of life, I don't think these questions will be answered.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> What a cool post! I had fun reading the links! <<

Yay! That's what I was hoping for.

>> As for whether a number of cryptids are real? Well, it's damn hard to prove a negative. <<

Exactly. Unlike most people, if I can't pin down enough reliable data to formulate a stance on a topic, I leave it indeterminate -- and while my curiosity entices me to poke at it periodically, I'm comfortable leaving it indeterminate until or unless the data resolve into a clear pattern. So for me, cryptids are "potential" creatures with a fairly wide range of likelihood.

>> So unless someone actually gets prositive proof of life, I don't think these questions will be answered.<<

Sadly, there is one way to prove a negative: if the damn human infestation renders an entire habitat completely unsuitable or nonexistent. Which is how many of the "extinct or alive?" species became cryptids in the first place. >_<

One thing to account for in plausibility calculation is habitat size, specifically in relation to the probable dietary and reproductive needs of a species. Some like the ivory-billed woodpecker need a huge territory of a type that has become vanishingly rare. Well, okay, they're birds and damn big ones at that -- they could fly to another pocket forest to find a mate. But most cryptids couldn't do that.

Humans have occupied or ravaged so much of the planet that they've wiped out many species. But there are still lots of places they don't go, especially in the water, so anything aquatic tends to be higher in plausibility.

Ah hell, I forgot to include the Pictish Beast and I was just posting a poem last night that had one in it! There's even a damn good photograph. *headdesk*

[mxcatmoon]

What a fun idea for a list!

I like your choices! I really want to believe the Tas is still around. I've seen some game cam photos that may or may not be. I never thought of a cryptid plant before, interesting! ) I know of Mokele-Mbembe from watching Destination Truth, where I learned about a lot of cryptids that I'd never heard of.

Mine would probably be the Jersey Devil (I'm from NJ, so I kinda have to), Mothman, Orang Pendek, Lizard Man (silly and totally fake, but I love their town spirit), and Bigfoot.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> What a fun idea for a list!<<

Thank you. I wanted something that would be unusual, but familiar enough that lots of people would enjoy talking about it.

>> I like your choices! I really want to believe the Tas is still around. I've seen some game cam photos that may or may not be.<<

Well, we can hope.

>> I never thought of a cryptid plant before, interesting! )

This category includes lost plants, alleged plants, and plant-based monster types.

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Plantae

>> I know of Mokele-Mbembe from watching Destination Truth, where I learned about a lot of cryptids that I'd never heard of.<<

Cool.

>> Mine would probably be the Jersey Devil (I'm from NJ, so I kinda have to),<<

Yeah, some of my NJ fans have mentioned that.

>> Mothman, Orang Pendek, Lizard Man (silly and totally fake, but I love their town spirit), and Bigfoot.<<

That's a good list!

[meridian_rose]

Great list!
I played the Bard's Tale (2004) back in the day and there's a lot of myths from Orkney and Scandinavia, and it introduced me to the terrifying Nuckalavee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuckelavee
Which gets in the often tongue in cheek game a NSFW song about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JQpE7n6eUk&ab_channel=MalPlays

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Bards and music go together.

[dealer_of_aus_666]

Plant cryptid? :O I love this list!

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Plant cryptids include lost plants, those that may or may not be mythical, and plant-based monsters.

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Plantae

[teigh_corvus]

I love that this was your top five choice. :D

I'm a big cryptozoology fan, but hadn't realized the proper term would be cryptobiology- I hadn't realized that there are *plants* that are considered cryptids! Knowledge is power!

Faves... I have a fondness for the Mothman and am deeply amused by its fandom. The Jackalope is a childhood favorite, thanks to Wall Drug being an important landmark of my preteen cartography. But my fave is local - Champ, Vermont [and upstate New York]'s beloved lake monster. Spend enough time here and you will hear personal stories of Champ sightings. That beastie is very active.

Edit: AH. I can't believe that I forgot to mention the vegetable lamb! I think it counts as a cryptid. It's definitely my favorite bestiary beastie. It's also excellent for invoking WTF faces when brought up in conversation. So, I suppose it's my favorite cryptid icebreaker.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I love that this was your top five choice. :D

Yay!

>> I'm a big cryptozoology fan, but hadn't realized the proper term would be cryptobiology- I hadn't realized that there are *plants* that are considered cryptids! Knowledge is power! <<

Yep. I've known about silphium for ages. I used to hear "cryptobiology" more but now it's usually "cryptozoology."

>>The Jackalope is a childhood favorite, thanks to Wall Drug being an important landmark of my preteen cartography.<<

*laugh* Another one I forgot! I have one on my wall. :D This is another that is real, though not the taxidermy version.

>>But my fave is local - Champ, Vermont [and upstate New York]'s beloved lake monster. Spend enough time here and you will hear personal stories of Champ sightings. That beastie is very active.<<

I've read a bit about that one. I have a thread set in Vermont that features Syrian refugees. Champ would fit right in.

[themightyflynn]

The thylacine is really interesting! I love that we have so many "sightings" of things like that in Oz. There's always been reports of that giant black cat in Penrith, or Yowies in Newcastle. Do you think drop bears count? XD

I like the idea that Nessie is actually a Greenland shark. It seems to have the right size.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> The thylacine is really interesting! I love that we have so many "sightings" of things like that in Oz. <<

Agreed.

>> There's always been reports of that giant black cat in Penrith, or Yowies in Newcastle. Do you think drop bears count? XD <<

Drop bears totally count!

While I can see the amusement and deterrent value in it as a hoax, I also find the idea of a violent, pouncing, arboreal marsupial to be completely plausible. Keep a sharp eye on the fossil record.

>> I like the idea that Nessie is actually a Greenland shark. It seems to have the right size.<<

I agree with the size match. That's probably the best theory for a really big Nessie.

[myulalie]

I went to a museum in Hobart and a room was dedicated to the thylacine species and it just broke my heart to see the videos of the last known member of the species, I sat there crying for a little while. I was lucky to meet a lot of the wildlife during my stay in Tasmania but this one in particular remains in my heart ♥

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I went to a museum in Hobart and a room was dedicated to the thylacine species <<

Wow!

>> and it just broke my heart to see the videos of the last known member of the species, I sat there crying for a little while.<<

Yeah, it hits me that way too. :(

>> I was lucky to meet a lot of the wildlife during my stay in Tasmania but this one in particular remains in my heart ♥

That sounds like an exciting trip.

[badfalcon]

I've always loved the tales about Nessie - I've even been up to Inverness and driven all the way round the Loch in the hopes of seeing her but never did. I did bring home a t-shirt and a cute plushie though. I remember a decade or so ago, the previous last big search they did (not the one from last year) and my mum saying she had this vision of Nessie swimming behind the boats wondering what they were looking for.

And yeah, that's a big old deep lake - IIRC it's like 10,000 years old and formed during the last Ice Age, its like 750foot deep in places and holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. It's HUGE and there's definitely something in there, I'm sure of it!

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I've always loved the tales about Nessie - I've even been up to Inverness and driven all the way round the Loch in the hopes of seeing her but never did.<<

That is so awesome.

>> I did bring home a t-shirt and a cute plushie though.<<

:D If nothing else, crytpids give us a sense of wonder and encourage both travel and creativity.

>> I remember a decade or so ago, the previous last big search they did (not the one from last year) and my mum saying she had this vision of Nessie swimming behind the boats wondering what they were looking for.<<

Yep, there are cartoons of that.

>> And yeah, that's a big old deep lake - IIRC it's like 10,000 years old and formed during the last Ice Age, its like 750foot deep in places and holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. It's HUGE and there's definitely something in there, I'm sure of it! <<

The places that cryptids tend to live in remind us that we have explored a minority of the planet.