AI for Breakfast

Post 147 - Word Wednesday - Cryptozoology

Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience that focuses on the search for and study of animals whose existence is unsubstantiated, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Chupacabra. These animals are referred to as "cryptids" by cryptozoologists [1].

Key points about cryptozoology

• It is considered a pseudoscience by mainstream science because it does not follow the scientific method. Cryptozoology relies heavily on anecdotal evidence and stories rather than empirical evidence [1]
  
• The term "cryptozoology" was coined in the late 1950s by Belgian zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans and Scottish explorer Ivan T. Sanderson, who are considered the founders of the field [1][8]
  
• Cryptozoologists often focus on creatures from folklore and legend, whereas zoologists follow established scientific methodology to identify new species [1]
  
• Some famous examples of cryptids include Bigfoot/Sasquatch, the Loch Ness Monster, the Yeti/Abominable Snowman, the Jersey Devil, Chupacabra, and Mokele-mbembe [2][11]
  
• While most cryptids remain unsubstantiated, a handful of animals once considered cryptids have been proven to exist, such as the okapi, gorilla, giant squid, and coelacanth [8]
  
• Cryptozoology has connections to other pseudosciences like ghost hunting and ufology. Critics argue cryptozoologists express hostility to mainstream science [11]
  

So in summary, cryptozoology is the search for "hidden animals" that are not currently recognized by science. While an exciting notion, cryptozoology is not accepted as a legitimate branch of zoology due to its speculative nature and lack of solid evidence for the creatures it seeks.

Citation
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cryptozoology?variant=zh-cn
[2] https://allthatsinteresting.com/cryptids
[3] https://www.burnsiderarebooks.com/searchResults.php?action=browse&category_id=298
[4] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cryptozoology
[5] https://www.rsb.org.uk/biologist-features/a-cultural-phenomenon
[6] https://www.goodreads.com/genres/cryptozoology
[7] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cryptozoology
[8] https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/2020/12/12/seven-cryptids-species/
[9] https://www.amazon.com/cryptozoology-Books/s?k=cryptozoology&rh=n%3A283155
[10] https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cryptozoology
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptids
[12] https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/cryptids
[13] https://cryptozoologymuseum.com/what-is-cryptozoology/
[14] https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Cryptids
[15] https://www.oed.com/dictionary/cryptozoology_n?tl=true
[16] https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/cryptids.htm
[17] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cryptozoology
[18] https://www.pearson.com/languages/community/blogs/2023/10/english-cryptids.html
[19] https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/What-Is-Cryptozoologys: