r/Cryptozoology

Manta rays have a horrid taxonomic history, with many species or genera proposed based on all sorts of arbitrary minutiae, such as tiny differences in anatomy or geographic range; oftentimes a new species or genus would be named based on a single specimen. One such trait historically thought to be useful for species determination was the coloration of the dorsal side of the ray, known for drastic changes in colors and unique patternings on occasion. Specimens with "white bands" on the shoulders have remained a particularly elusive type, best published on by William Beebe (hence the type later being dubbed "Beebe's Manta" by G.G. Sehm in the journal Cryptozoology). In 2014, it was realized that these white bands were temporary flushes of color, the mantas displayed white shoulders when hungry, aroused, or otherwise just having fun. These markings still vary by species but since there are now only ~3 species (thanks DNA), identification using the white shoulders is a lot more simple today. 

Here's a (likely incomplete) history of a very obscure proposed genus/species of manta ray, Brachioptilon hamiltoni, which has a surprisingly long history within cryptozoology, involved since its proposal. Many thanks are owed to u/0todus_megalodon for significant aid in researching this subject!

Brachioptilon hamiltoni was first proposed by Edward Newman in the 7th volume of The Zoologist, published 1849, based on a large specimen speared by Captain Cospatrick Baillie Hamilton off California, the drawing of which seems unpublished. That same volume saw an additional record discussed by George Guyon, based on an individual captured in the Gulf of Mexico. You'll note how both articles are sandwiched between notes on sea serpents, the Stronsa beast, and other cryptids.

The genus also gets some attention in a Swedish book discussing numerous cryptids including the Minhacao, living plesiosaurs, and giant birds. I've not seen this source acknowledged before, and am unsure of its significance to these subjects. A.C. Oudemans further mentions it in his treatise on the sea serpent! Quite an impressive history of indirect association with cryptozoology, hanging alongside key players of the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Newman’s description was very brief, making ichthyologists quite uncertain of the standing of B. hamiltoni, with one author even describing Newman’s description as useless. Essentially all sources agreed that Brachioptilon was synonymous with the (now obsolete) genus Manta, but there was disagreement on what species it represented. Some authors used the combination of M. hamiltoni, deemed the “Pacific Manta” or “California sea-devil”. This persisted in some publications well into the late 1960s, and even saw use in museums, with color, again, stated as the clearest demarcation between species. Another now obsolete species, M. pinchoti, was even sunk into M. hamiltoni by Beebe! Others went in the opposite direction - according to Millar (1899) Jordan & Evermann's "Fishes of North and Middle America" (1896) is the first source to synonymize Brachioptilon hamiltoni with Manta birostris (a determination that has held true today).

As I said, Beebe's Manta became a cryptozoological subject through an article by G.G. Sehm. The paper in Cryptozoology is a mixed bag, omitting the very important Beebe article, which includes a bibliography of several examples of white-shouldered mantas known at the time, as well as the important discussion by Notarbartolo-di-Sciara & Hillyer (1989), which seems to be the second real modern recognition of the color as identifying characteristic problem. Several instances from after Beebe's paper, however, are first reported by Sehm and contemporary reportings by Karl Shuker (Mysteries Of Planet Earth, Fortean Times, see also his blog).

This history of white-shoulders is not discussed by the 2014 paper, leaving a huge gap in recording. There's many cool forgotten historical observations of these things, including old artwork and footage located by yours truly. I’ve shared some other miscellany elsewhere. Hope to publish on this all eventually.

So basically the story goes like this: There is only one fossil found and it's around 6.000 years old (correction: 6.000 instead of 3.000 years). The first polynesian people came to Hawaii around 1.600 years ago. Of course the one fossil isn't the only speciem of this duck, but the hole in the fossil record and the lack of any folklore of the hawaiian people about this animal suggest it maybe was already extinct when the first people came to the islands. Of course this is just one theory. The other theory is the fossil record maybe has holes, but the native people of Hawaii are known to hunted down many native animals from Hawaii and other south pacific islands into extinction. So why should a nearly blind duck which maybe behaved like the Kiwi be a exception to this rule? Besides at the place where the one fossil from this duck was found were also many remains from other extinct animals found. So this question maybe a tricky one I guess.

Art source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaU4VUvCGG4/

Often termed as the “Indian Chupacabra” for its attack on livestocks and sucking blood out of them. Kerala based biologist Dijo Thomas had claimed the presence of a •VAMPIRE KANGAROO• which was / is responsible for such attacks.

This story was covered by Deccan Chronicle - pretty famous and reliable newspaper in India.

I know Kangaroos are only local to Australian subcontinent but this one had created quite some buzz in the Indian zoological circle.

While there are a ton of possible suspects for the Beast of Gevaudan - wolves, exotic big cats, and human serial killers all being considered the likeliest - I think another interesting possibility is that at least some of the Beast killings being delivered at the hands (paws?) of a domestic dog, or otherwise a wolfdog. In Beast: Werewolves, Serial Killers, and Maneaters (Romero & Schwalb), the authors make a pretty compelling case for a wolfdog or even an outright domestic dog being behind some, if not most or even all, of the attacks. Their/my arguments are listed below:

First off, wolves almost never attack humans, but domestic dogs do all the time. In fact, 20-30,000+ people are killed every year by domestic dogs, altho this is mostly due to rabies. And furthermore, dogs can and have been bred to act as guardians to attack and even injure other humans.

Secondly, most, if not all, of the Beast’s strange traits, while they can’t really be explained by wolves, can easily be ascribed to a domestic dog or dogs. Rhodesian ridgebacks have enormous, thick, barrel-shaped chests, russet-brown fur, and even the line or “ridge” down the back. Sighthounds, especially borzois, Afghans, and Irish wolfhounds, have looong whiplike tails, much longer and more distinct than that of a wolf (“whiplike” might have been a mistranslation btw, and might have meant the erratic lashing movements of the Beast’s tail rather than the tail itself being long and whiplike). Mastiffs are infamous for having enormous drooling maws. and so on and so forth.

Dogs being able to interbreed and produce hugely-variable mutt offspring lends credence to this theory, as if the right parents are bred, you can get some pretty big (and quite frightening-looking) dogs. And it’s important to note that perception greatly alters our view of these animals. All the pictured dogs are good boys through and through, but being mistreated or even bred and bent to a sick-minded individuals will can turn the best boys into killing machines. While we see the above dogs as big flonkers, a frightened and cold French countrywoman alone in the fields would see one of these charging at her and not think it was anything less than a nightmare.

These are only some of the arguments, I definitely recommend reading the above book for more info, it’s very good. It definitely sold me that at least some of the attacks were committed by either a domestic dog or dogs or a wolfdog, with no small amount of paranoia and exaggeration playing a part too.

Dogs pictured:
1: wolfdog
2: Alaskan malamute
3: Great Dane
4: Irish wolfhound
5-6: Caucasian shepherd
7: English mastiff
8: Leonberger
9-10: German shepherd-great Pyrenees mix (saw one in person, it was huge, big drooling mouth, and long lashing tail. Practically the spitting image of the Beast).
Important caveat: while I’m not saying that any of the above breeds in particular were the culprit(s), they’re just there to illustrate that domestic dogs can be huge and often quite frightening and strange-looking.

The Clarunco is a mysterious bird from Chilean caves, said to inhabit the deepest caves of the Andes and rocky mountain regions. Although it closely resembles a common tordo (blackbird), it is immediately recognized by its glowing yellow eyes, which shine through the darkness like distant lanterns.

Is described as being about the size of a crow, Its plumage is an intense black with a subtle metallic sheen, allowing it to blend almost perfectly into the darkness of caves. Its most striking feature is its bright yellow eyes, which remain visible even when the rest of the bird is completely hidden in shadow.

The Clarunco is rarely seen outside its underground habitat, According to tradition, it emits an eerie humming or chirping call that echoes through cave passages.

My guess is many of the sightings of cryptid lake serpents might be this animal. I've never heard of them until recently. The Alligator Gar looks like the cryptid Zeuglodon or Mosasaurus.

Here's my rendition of the Texas Pterosaur - (human-made artwork - NON-A.I.)

These flying reptiles, named 'Ropens' by some, are seen in several places around the globe to this day... Some are reported to be seen flying around in Cuba, some in Papa New Guinea... Many variations of these 'living pterosaurs' are reported from all over the United States.

This print depicts one of the many 'Texas Pterosaur' sightings as described by a variety of people... some as recently as 2017.

This is a particular favourite subject of mine... living dinosaurs and their cousins!

Have you seen one?
What do you suppose it could be if not a pterosaur....?

Be sure to check out the other 'Cryptozoology' prints in this store!

Print available here!

Merch & More here!

Different comics that bring stories from the same universe about cryptids, animals that are believed to exist in the world, for example Kasai Rex, Nguma Monene, Big Foof, and so on.

I would like you to support and demonstrate that in the cryptid market There is, byeeeeee

https://m.tapas.io/series/CRYPTOOZ/info#:\~:text=Thriller/Terror-,CRIPTOUZ,-CRIPTOUZ

It was summer of 2001 when streets of Delhi were terrorised by a monkey like Cryptid with long metallic nails and claws, glowing red eyes and was around 5-8 feet tall as per many eye witnesses.

Some had called it mass hysteria while others called it a monster from nearby jungles.

Over 350 reported sightings with many turning out to be fake. But the hysteria was so much that Police had to form teams with local zoologists to find an answer but to no avail.

Today it remains a mysterious chapter in Delhi’s history.

Apparantly in 1991 a ROV that were exploring ship wreckages in Lake Tahoe captured this. From the video I will link down here. From 07:31

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQMhp8CcaL4&t=463s