A Few New Articles

At Mysterious Universe, you can find a few new articles from me:

1. This one on a controversial saga, that of a certain monster of the Congo River Basin;

2. A bizarre tale of giant frogs in Minnesota;

3. And close encounters with giant snakes...

A Manifestation Of Monsters - Reviewed

There's a new review from me of Dr. Karl Shuker's latest book: A Manifestation of Monsters. Here's how the review starts...

"Wondering where I got that article-title from? I’ll tell you: it’s also the title of the brand new book from Dr. Karl Shuker: A Manifestation of Monsters: Examining The (Un)Usual Suspects. Published by Anomalist Books, this is an excellent new book, one that those of you fascinated by the subject of Cryptozoology will definitely enjoy. Indeed, it’s difficult to go wrong with one of Karl’s books, as he’s someone who is justifiably referred to as one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists.

"What I enjoy about Karl’s books (and particularly so the new one) is that he doesn’t just focus on the world’s most famous cryptids, such as Bigfoot, Ogopogo, Nessie, the Yeti, and so on. Nope, as the '(Un)Usual' wording of the sub-title clearly demonstrates, Karl gets into the worlds of some very obscure and odd critters. Which is, of course, a good thing. Yes, Karl focuses on some of the more famous ones too. But, giving the reader a look at a wealth of strange “things” that, very likely, many have no knowledge of is a big plus."

The Nessies: Giant Salamanders?

That's the issue I raise in my new Mysterious Universe article, which starts like this:

"Reports of lake monsters absolutely abound across the entire planet. Amongst the most famous ones are Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster, Ogopogo of Lake Okanagan, and Champ of Lake Champlain. The big question is: if the “things” are real, then what, exactly, are they? On the matter of the Loch Ness Monster, creature-seekers have suggested they may be relic populations of plesiosaurs, marine reptiles that are believed to have become extinct tens of millions of years ago. Other theorists suggest the creatures might be immense eels. Sturgeon have been suggested for some reports. And there is also the supernatural scenario.

"There is, however, yet another angle, too: the idea that the beasts of Loch Ness are salamanders, albeit of a very (very) large size. Salamanders are amphibians that are noted for their long tails, blunt heads, and short limbs and which – in the case of the Chinese giant salamander – can reach lengths of six feet."

Lake Monsters Or Giant Eels?

My latest Mysterious Universe article focuses on the theory that at least some so-called "lake-monsters" may actually be giant eels. It starts like this:

"When it comes to the matter of lake monsters, two things can be said with a high degree of certainty: (a) sightings have been reported from pretty much all around the world; and (b) the theories for what they may be are as many as they are varied. Ogopogo, Champ, Morag, and the monsters of Loch Ness, Scotland have all captured the collective imagination of the public and the media, as well as the attention of cryptozoologists, the scientific community, and monster-hunters. But, if lake monsters really do exist – and I think they do – then what are they? That’s a good question…

"Certainly, and beyond any shadow of doubt (and particularly so when it comes to the matter of what lurks within Loch Ness) the most popular theory is that the creatures are plesiosaurs: marine reptiles that lived from the Triassic Period, thrived in the Jurassic Period, and finally met their demise at the end of the Cretaceous Period. If such beasts did survive extinction, such a discovery would not just be amazing – it would be beyond amazing!" (END OF EXTRACT)

The giant eel theory is one that has interested me for a long time and you can find other material on this very subject from me in my 2012 book Monster Diary (which includes an entire chapter on the subject, titled "The Great Eel Hunt"). The photo below relates to the story in the book.

Also check out this 2012 article from me (also at Mysterious Universe), one (from 2008) at my now-closed down blog, There's Something in the Woods, and a second one at the same blog, this one from 2007.