Cryptozoology: The First Documented Case? Inexplicata
Is there a definite starting point with regard to the study of unknown animals? The first photo of Nessie? The first book by Heuvelmans? Or does it go much further back in time? In any case, the first documented cryptozoological case in the history of Spain is probably recounted by Roman author and scientist Pliny the Elder (23-79 B.C.E.). In the third volume of his Historia Naturalis, he mentions an apparent giant squid encounter, as told by another Roman naturalist from the previous century, Trebius Niger. Elsewhere, in Here Be Monsters, a reporter from the Guardian attends a lecture at the Zoological Society London entitled "Cryptozoology: science or pseudoscience?" Chairing the event was Naturesenior editor Henry Gee, with speakers Michael Woodley, Charles Paxton, and Darren Naish, who presented their crypto data. The three speakers confirmed that their modelling indicates there are between 10 and 50 large species of marine animals yet to be described. Of course, the real question was: How should science deal with low-frequency phenomena that might well be real?
