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Living Dinosaurs?
Most scientists now believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs. If this
is correct then birds are in fact an evolved type of dinosaur
(see dinosaur family tree).
Taxonomy is the science of
classifying living things. Taxonomists are still
discussing whether birds ought to be placed in a single combined group ("class")
together with the other dinosaurs, or ought to be
classified separately.
Part of the confusion arises because of historical usage of the words.
When people say or write "dinosaur", they nearly always mean
"non-avian dinosaur" (all dinosaurs except birds).
The "dinosauria" is sometimes used to refer to a combined class
of both the birds and the non-avian dinosaurs.
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology is the search for rumored or mythical animals, whose actual
existence is uncertain (these animals are often known as "cryptids").
In some cases, the animals are claimed to be surviving
dinosaurs or other
prehistoric animals
(such animals are technically known as "relicts"),
in others, they are claimed to be as yet undiscovered species.
Mainstream scientists are often skeptical about many claims of the
existence of cryptids and relicts, however one can not dismiss all such claims out of
hand:
- It should be remembered that the both
the tuatara and horseshoe crabs are both relicts -
the two known species of tuatara are last surviving members of the order Sphenodontia,
and horseshoe crabs seems to be most closely related to
Sea Scorpions
("Eurypterids"), which disappeared
248 million years ago in the Permian-Triassic
extinction event).
- The Coelacanth (a type of fish) was believed by scientists to have been extinct for at least 65 million years - until
one was discovered in a fishing net in
South Africa in
1938.
- The Mountain Gorilla, the Megamouth Shark, and the Hoan Kiem Turtle, were all at one time
or another dismissed as being legends (without supporting evidence for their existence) by mainstream science.
Today, they are however all accepted as existing.
Of course, it's a huge to leap to go from saying that there have been in the past some
creatures that were unknown to science, to jumping to the idea that dinosaurs
are still living in some part of the Earth. On the whole, most
dinosaurs are large (and therefore any living animals would be likely to have
been found by now), the time since
they were last known to be living is huge, and the evidence for their continued existence is not
particularly strong (clear photographs or video are generally lacking) - but it does remain just possible that some
dinosaurs could have survived somewhere on Earth.
Here are some of the cryptids which just might be living dinosaurs:
- Mokele-Mbembe is perhaps the most famous cryptid claimed as a dinosaur.
It is claimed to live in the Congo River basin in central Africa.
Local legends describe the animal as about the size of small elephant,
grey-brown in color,
and preferring to live in deep rivers and swampland.
Descriptions of the animal's appearance however vary widely -
in some cases it has been described as resembling a small
Sauropod
dinosaur (similar in shape to an Apatosaurus,
but smaller), in other cases as being similar to an iguana or monitor lizard, and in some
cases as something more like a familiar large mammal, perhaps an elephant or rhinoceros (some local
people also describe the creature as a spirit).
There have been numerous expeditions to the area to hunt for the creature, particularly in
the last 30 years or so, there is no definitive proof
that the creature exists.
- Emela-ntouka is an animal claimed to be known to the Pygmy tribes of central Africa. It is said
to be size of a large elephant, gray-brown in color, with one horn, a rhinocerous-like body,
and short stumpy legs. There has been speculation this animal may be a relict Ceroptisian
dinosaur, perhaps
Centrosaurus or
Monoclonius. The Pygmies however do not believe that the animal has
a neck frill, which would seem to rule out this theory. In any case,
the idea of finding a living
Ceratopsian dinosaur in central Africa seems unlikely on its face, because
Ceratopsians are not believed to have lived in Africa
(Ceratopsians lived in North America, Eastern Asia and
possibly South America and
Australia - see map below).
Locations of
Ceratopsian
fossils:
- Ngoubou is a cryptid that supposedly lives in Cameroon, has six
horns, and is about the size of an ox. It has been suggested that this animal may be a relict
Styracosaurus, but given that
Styracosaurus
was a
Ceratopsian, and
Ceratopsians are not believed to have lived in Africa (see map above), this seems rather unlikely.
- Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu is a cryptid that supposedly lives in the Northern part of the
Republic of Congo. It supposed to be a herbivore (plant-eater),
living a semi-aquatic lifestyle, with
"planks growing out of its back", and it has been suggested that it might be a
Kentrosaurus. The
evidence for this existence of this creature are some accounts from villagers
local to the area which were recorded by the cryptozoologist Roy P. Mackal.
- Nguma-moneme is a cryptid that supposedly lives in the Republic of Congo.
It has been described as a lizard with a serrated ridge on its back, and is supposed to be atleast
33 feet (10 meters) long. Sightings of the creature were made in
1961 and
1971,
and there are also a number of earlier accounts which could possibly be the same animal.
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Books about Mokele-Mbembe
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
By Rick Emmer
Chelsea House Publications
Library Binding (104 pages; 1)
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By William J. Gibbons
Coachwhip Publications
Paperback (272 pages)
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Explorer, cryptozoologist, and creationist Bill Gibbons has traveled to remote corners of the world in search of strange and unknown creatures. But Bill's heart is in Africa, where monstrous dinosaur-like creatures are still rumored to inhabit the vast swamps of the Congo Basin. In Mokele-Mbembe: Mystery Beast of the Congo Basin, Gibbons provides a fascinating insight into several expeditions that have ventured forth in search of suspected living dinosaurs, include several of his own. Here you will read about many amazing eyewitness testimonies and surprise encounters with these remarkable creatures. This book will take you on a journey into a true "lost world" of pygmy tribes, dense unforgiving jungles, hidden unexplored lakes, and rivers that run for hundreds of miles into a land that time has literally forgotten. No armchair explorer, Gibbons also details several other incredible creatures that by all accounts should have been extinct eons ago, yet are still encountered today by astonished eyewitnesses in the 21st century. Join Bill as he continues on his tireless quest in search of an animal that could well be the most important scientific discovery of this century! |
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By Chad Arment
Coachwhip Publications
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Books LLC
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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Mokèlé-mbèmbé: meaning "one who stops the flow of rivers" in the Lingala language, is the name given to a large water dwelling cryptid found in legends and folklore of the Congo River basin. It is sometimes described as a living creature and sometimes as a spirit. It could be considered loosely analogous to the Loch Ness Monster in Western culture. Several expeditions have been mounted in the hope of finding evidence of the Mokèlé-mbèmbé, though without success. Efforts have been covered in a number of books and by a number of television documentaries. The Mokèlé-mbèmbé and its associated folklore also appear in several works of fiction and popular culture. According to the traditions of the Congo River basin the Mokèlé-mbèmbé is a large territorial herbivore, approximately the size of a small elephant or a large hippopotamus. It is said to dwell in Lake Télé and the surrounding area, with a preference for deep water, and with local folklore holding that its haunts of choice are river bends. Descriptions of the Mokèlé-mbèmbé vary. Some legends describe it as having an elephant-like body with a long neck and tail and a small head, a description which has been suggested to be similar in appearance to that of the extinct Sauropoda, while others describe it as more closely resembling elephants, rhinoceros, and other known animals. It is usually described as being gray-brown in color. Some traditions, such as those of Boha Village, describe it as a spirit rather than a flesh and blood creature. According to the writings of biologist Roy Mackal, who mounted two unsuccessful expeditions to find it, it is likely that the Mokèlé-mbèmbé is a reptile. Of all the living reptiles, Mackal argues that the iguana and the monitor lizards bear the closest resem... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=19510 |
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| Mokele-mbembe: Lingala language, Cryptid, Folklore, Loch Ness Monster, Emela-ntouka, Ngoubou, Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu, Nguma-monene, Sirrush, Kasai rex, Living dinosaur |
Alphascript Publishing
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Mokèlé-mbèmbé: meaning "one who stops the flow of rivers" in the Lingala language, is the name given to a large water dwelling cryptid found in legends and folklore of the Congo River basin. It is sometimes described as a living creature and sometimes as a spirit. It could be considered loosely analogous to the Loch Ness Monster in Western culture. Several expeditions have been mounted in the hope of finding evidence of the Mokèlé-mbèmbé, though without success. Efforts have been covered in a number of books and by a number of television documentaries. The Mokèlé-mbèmbé and its associated folklore also appear in several works of fiction and popular culture. |
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By Roy P. MacKal
Brill Academic Pub
Hardcover (340 pages)
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By Rory Nugent
Mariner Books
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An American explorer and cryptozoologist chronicles his adventures on the Congo searching for the elusive Mokele-Mbembe, a dinosaur-like creature reported to live in the river. By the author of The Search for the Pink-Headed Duck. |
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Kapitel: Adze, Afrikanische Kosmogonie, Dinka, Hand Der Fatima, Mokele-Mbembe, Malaika, Tokoloshe, Maji-Maji, Ninki-Nanka, Tumbuka, Unkulunkulu, Asanbosam, Abuk, Aynaet. Aus Wikipedia. Nicht dargestellt. Auszug: Mokèlé-mbèmbé, meaning "one who stops the flow of rivers" in the Lingala language, is the name given to a large water dwelling cryptid found in legends and folklore of the Congo River basin. It is sometimes described as a living creature and sometimes as a spirit. It could be considered loosely analogous to the Loch Ness Monster in Western culture. Several expeditions have been mounted in the hope of finding evidence of the Mokèlé-mbèmbé, though without success. Efforts have been covered in a number of books and by a number of television documentaries. The Mokèlé-mbèmbé and its associated folklore also appear in several works of fiction and popular culture. According to the traditions of the Congo River basin the Mokèlé-mbèmbé is a large territorial herbivore, approximately the size of a small elephant or a large hippopotamus. It is said to dwell in Lake Télé and the surrounding area, with a preference for deep water, and with local folklore holding that its haunts of choice are river bends. Descriptions of the Mokèlé-mbèmbé vary. Some legends describe it as having an elephant-like body with a long neck and tail and a small head, a description which has been suggested to be similar in appearance to that of the extinct Sauropoda, while others describe it as more closely resembling elephants, rhinoceros, and other known animals. It is usually described as being gray-brown in color. Some traditions, such as those of Boha Village, describe it as a spirit rather than a flesh and blood creature. According to the writings of biologist Roy Mackal, who mounted two unsuccessful expeditions to find it, it is likely that the Mokèlé-mbèmbé is a reptile. Of all the living reptiles, Mackal argues that the iguana and the monitor liza...http://booksllc.net/?l=de |
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Books LLC
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Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Emela-Ntouka, Ours Nandi, Mokele-Mbembe, Kongamato, Mngwa, Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu, Ngoubou, Abatwa, Aïsha Kandisha, Nommo, Chipique, Aziza. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : L'Emela-ntouka ("Tueur d'éléphants") est le nom d'une créature légendaire vivant dans la région du bassin du fleuve Congo et des marécages du Likouala à la frontière de la république du Congo et du Cameroun. La légende de l'emela-ntouka vient de la mythologie des tribus pygmées qui vivent au Congo. Son nom, en langage lingala, signifie tueur d'éléphants et viendrait de son mode de vie agressif. En effet, bien qu'herbivore, il s'attaque souvent à de grands animaux, tels l'éléphant, le rhinocéros ou l'hippopotame mais sans les dévorer. Il aurait la peau glabre de couleur grisâtre, posséderait quatre pattes robustes et sa queue ressemblerait à celle du crocodile. Selon les Pygmées et les témoins qui l'ont aperçu, il serait un peu plus grand qu'un éléphant. En Occident, l'emela-ntouka est mentionné pour la première fois en 1954 dans un article paru dans la revue britannique Mammalia. Écrit par Lucien Blancou, ancien inspecteur de la région des marais du Likouala, en Afrique équatoriale française, il décrit l'animal comme étant plus grand qu'un bison. Lorsqu'il est dérangé, il peut s'attaquer aux éléphants, aux buffles et aux hippopotames. En 1980 et 1981, un cryptozoologiste américain, Roy Mackal, organise deux expéditions au Congo à la recherche du Mokele-mbembe, une autre bête légendaire africaine. Il entend alors plusieurs témoignages d'hommes qui prétendent avoir vu l'emela-ntouka. Un autre animal du même genre, appelé chipekwe par les indigènes, semble vivre en Afrique australe à la frontière de l'Angola et de la Zambie. Fréq...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr |
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Books LLC
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Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Monstre Du Loch Ness, Emela-Ntouka, Mokele-Mbembe, Kongamato, Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu, Ngoubou, Velue, Aachenosaurus, Chipique, Memphré. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : Le monstre du Loch Ness désigne un hypothétique animal aquatique supposé vivre dans le Loch Ness, un lac d'eau douce d'Écosse. Surnommé Nessie (parfois orthographié Nessy), le monstre a été baptisé Nessitera rhombopteryx. Il est souvent décrit comme ressemblant à un serpent de mer ou à un plésiosaure. Dans son ouvrage A la recherche des monstres lacustres (1977), Peter Costello pense à la possibilité d'un mammifère comme une grosse otarie ou une super loutre, qui auraient pu être confondues avec un monstre. De nombreux enthousiastes se rendent sur les eaux du Loch Ness dès la fin des années 1930. afin de le rechercher. Des photos et des films ont été présentés, mais leur authenticité est difficile à prouver. Sa crédibilité a toutefois été mise à mal après que certains canulars eurent été révélés. Loch NessLa légende du monstre du Loch Ness est particulièrement ancienne, puisqu'on en retrouve les premières traces en 565 dans les chroniques du moine irlandais Saint Colomban : il déclara avoir enterré un homme mordu mortellement par « an Niseag » (nom celte de Nessie). au siècle. Mais c'est à partir du siècle que les témoignages se sont faits plus nombreux et plus précis. Le monstre a fait l'objet d'une curiosité renouvelée dans les années 1930, surtout après la construction en 1933 d'une route en bordure du lac qui favorise les témoignages. Le premier article de journal racontant l'apparition du monstre est publié en mai 1933. On peut même apercevoir la créature sur une photographie prise en 1934 qui fera le tour du monde prise par Ro...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr |
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