Under The Radar: Survivors of Extinction

The general public has long been driven by the pressing possibility that some supposedly extinct animal had survived the trials that supposedly sent it to the grave. Cryptozoologists often resort to the local fossil record to provide plausible theories for cryptids. Bernard Heuvelmans is often regarded as the pioneer of that method, and rightly so for he did say almost exactly that in his unprecedented compilation, On the Track of Unknown Animals. Ever since that initial suggestion, scientists have been seriously contemplating what can and cannot be deemed ‘extinct’. The mystery of those animals that have gone under the radar persists to fascinate me. I have decided to document 9 survivor cases that are often regarded as possible survivors of God’s most sickly plague; extinction.

Basilosaurus: The Basilosaurus meaning “regal reptile”, otherwise known as the Zeuglodon meaning “saw toothed” is often thought to be one of the most reliable sea serpent theory. It was known to live along North America, Europe, Egypt, and New Zealand, all of which are locations that often boast sea serpent reports. It is a popular theory especially in the analysis of creatures such as Cadborosaurus and the Chesapeake Bay Monster. It was known to use echolocation, a feature often included in an examination of Loch Ness Monster and Champ sightings. It is very likely that the Basilosaurus is the ultimate theory for sea serpent and lake monster sightings.

Plesiosaur: The Cadborosaurus is often theorized to be a title encompassing multiple cryptids. The Plesiosaur is usually the other theory in the case of the latter. It was a possible candidate for the identity of the Loch Ness Monster in Roy P. Mackal’s The Monsters of Loch Ness. Those that choose to research sea serpents and lake monsters will typically come to the conclusion of a survived Basilosaurus, while the Plesiosaur is a far more famous theory. The first article I ever read on the subject of the Loch Ness Monster specifically mentioned the Plesiosaur as a plausible result to years of ‘Nessie’ analysis.

Ceratops: The most famous representative of the Ceratops family is the Triceratops, but the Triceratops is usually not the theory presented by cryptozoologists in an attempt to speculate on the result of mysteries such as the Chipekwe and the Emela-Ntouka. The Ceratops family is a typical theory in mysteries of strange African killers like the two mentioned beforehand. The Chipekwe is an extremely famous “living dinosaur,” seconded only to the Mokele-mbembe. Although the Ceratops theory is famous, it is not widely endorsed amongst intellectual theorists. That award rests on the back of the Arsinoitherium.

Arsinoitherium: The Arsinoitherium is a two horned rhinoceros-like animal that is actually a close relative to the elephant. It is often considered to be the most reliable theory for the identity of the Chipekwe and all of its ethnological variants. I would consider this theory to be the most of all the other considerations. The only real issue is that the two horns are situated horizontally in the Arsinoitherium’s case whereas the Chipekwe’s horns are reportedly situated vertically. Perhaps the Arsinoitherium is completely irrelevant to the Chipekwe’s case, and maybe not.

Pterosaurs: Pterosaurs are often considered to be a possible survivor of extinction, even by highly prestigious scientists. According to testimonial evidence, the pterosaur might have survived and taken refuge on the island of Java under the title of Ahool. There have also been reports of an “olitiau” and “kongamato” in Africa that could represent a small population of pterosaurs. It is truly amazing to contemplate what might have survived in the remotest corners of Earth.

Sauropods: The Mokele-mbembe and the Isuququmadevu are both cryptids that are often considered to be living sauropods like the Brachiosaurus, only smaller. The Mokele-mbembe is often estimated at a size of 30 to 35 feet in height. Such a creature is well-known by paleontologists as a sauropod and that is what most cryptozoologists have come to realize is the most credible identity for creatures such as the Mokele-mbembe.

Moas: The Moa is a large flightless bird that was a relative to the ostrich, diatryma, and Aepyornis. It was a resident on New Zealand until it went extinct around the 16^th or 17^th century. At least that is what most zoologists think. According to all evidence, the moa has maintained a small population ever since the time that it supposedly died. Bernard Heuvelmans spoke of it as a “living fossil of Oceania” and it instantly became a famous story amongst all that chose to take up the case. Perhaps the Moa did survive past our set “extinction” date for it.

Thylacines: The Thylacine, or marsupial wolf, supposedly went extinct in 1899 when the last known one died in captivity. People assumed for years after that that a few Thylacines survived, but the idea faded after a quarter of a century and the general public assumed that all of the Thylacines had perished. That was all changed when photographic evidence that opposed the original information was presented and now the possibility of its survival has lived on through many written works and individuals.

Mammoths: The Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) is impossibly famous and therefore difficult to convince the general public of its survival. Individuals as famous as Bernard Heuvelmans and Willy Ley have pondered on the possible survival of the Mammoth. In On the Track of Unknown Animals, Heuvelmans presents the theory that the Mammoth has survived in small forested regions in Siberia. Ley does not support the theory, however, and sets it aside as a childish fancy. It is not impossible that it is more than that.

All of these possible survivals never cease to amaze me. I enjoy studying them on a daily basis and would like to delve further into their precepts. But more than even that, I would like to educate the whole world on this matter, and will not stop until my amount of viewers reaches a maximum. I would encourage all of my readers to post this on Facebook or Twitter and share it with as many friends and family members as possible.