Cryptozoology (from Greek κρυπτός, kriptos, "hidden" + zoology;
literally, "study of hidden animals") is a pseudoscience focused on the
search for animals which are considered to be legendary or otherwise
nonexistent by mainstream biology. It consists of two primary fields of
research:
* The search for living examples of animals taxonomically identified
through fossil records which are considered to be extinct, such as
dinosaurs.
* The search for animals whose existence lacks empirical support but
which appear in myths, legends, or undocumented sightings, for
example Bigfoot and el Chupacabra.
A subset of the first field is the search for wild animals outside of their
normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats.
Those involved in cryptozoological study are known as
cryptozoologists. The animals they study are often referred to as
cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983.
Because cryptozoologists do not typically follow the scientific method
and devote a substantial portion of their efforts to investigations of
animals that most scientists believe are unlikely to exist, cryptozoology
has received little attention from the scientific community. In 2004,
however, paleoanthropologist Henry Gee, a senior editor of the journal
Nature suggested that cryptozoology may lead to legitimate scientific
discoveries and could "come in from the cold."
literally, "study of hidden animals") is a pseudoscience focused on the
search for animals which are considered to be legendary or otherwise
nonexistent by mainstream biology. It consists of two primary fields of
research:
* The search for living examples of animals taxonomically identified
through fossil records which are considered to be extinct, such as
dinosaurs.
* The search for animals whose existence lacks empirical support but
which appear in myths, legends, or undocumented sightings, for
example Bigfoot and el Chupacabra.
A subset of the first field is the search for wild animals outside of their
normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats.
Those involved in cryptozoological study are known as
cryptozoologists. The animals they study are often referred to as
cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983.
Because cryptozoologists do not typically follow the scientific method
and devote a substantial portion of their efforts to investigations of
animals that most scientists believe are unlikely to exist, cryptozoology
has received little attention from the scientific community. In 2004,
however, paleoanthropologist Henry Gee, a senior editor of the journal
Nature suggested that cryptozoology may lead to legitimate scientific
discoveries and could "come in from the cold."
