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The subject of cryptids is extremely fascinating to me. I am a believer in strange , undiscovered species. I've seen some very strange animals personally, and I do believe there are some ....interesting... animals out there. The ones I have seen myself I tend to believe are hybrids. Between coyotes and formidable mixed breed dogs. Bull and Rott breed mongrels are common on the rez I live in proximity to and the animals I have seen being canide in nature lend credence to that theory. The really interesting thing is these are not just one off critters. I've seen up to five identical animals in an obvious pack group. They are large and quite formidable looking, but I always see them when out on horseback and without a rifle I could drop one with. They follow the horses, but at a good distance. I've only gotten half decent looks at them through my binos. I usually only carry a handgun while riding.
Anyway, I just watched a show called Mountain Monsters, and....seriously?! These guys are supposed to be trying to either kill or capture mostly cryptid beasts that are reputed (and "shown" in their "investigations") to be predatory and extremely cunning and dangerous. My word! I've never seen a more inept bunch of would be " monster hunters" in my life. They've litrally stepped out of some Civil War movie, minus that real backwoodsmen would actually possess some woodcraft.These guys are a bumbling bunch of clowns (entertaining though they are in that aspect) who couldn't catch a fly with sugar. Stumbling around in the scrub, at night, wearing headlamps and shouting like banshees, in an attempt to bring a cunning cryptid predator to ground?
(sigh) Then other shows are made up of teams of scientist types, with all manner of high tech gear, who couldn't find their way out of the bamboo grove inn their own backyards. Setting up camera gear on gam trails, and leaving sign and scent all over their target areas, epecting those same elusive and cunning animals to just blunder in. I would like to see a team made up of people who have a clue on these shows. Made up of animal behavior experts (with real field experience) hunters, who are very knowledgeable about predator behavior, people with real woodcraft and know how go after these animals. Folks that realize the difference (at least) of up from downwind. That might help.
It's no wonder none of these animals (other than the T "blue dog') have been truly uncovered. I believe they are out there. They are just considerably smarter than the people looking for them. At least the ones on these TV shows. Anyone else have thoughts on undiscovered cryptids and how we should be trying to actually find them? Having been a hunter for most of my life, and having had to track down very canny stock killing predators a time or two, I have a few ideas. Were I with that Mountain Monsters crew I would have a lot of trouble with their methodology. Lol, that's the last bunch I'd want to be tracking a calf killing cat with, let alone some of these animals they go looking for. I'd stay with the truck rather than be on the menu methinks. And there's a disclaimer on the show about "don't try this at home boys and girls"., and how dangerous hunting cryptids is. Ummmm, yea. They should take their own advice from what I've seen.
I watch them for entertainment. The best cryptid episode I've seen lately is the thylacine episode of Josh Gates' Expedition Unknown, which featured a couple of video clips I hadn't seen before -- and he went out with researchers to sites where there were possible thylacine dens. My opinion: the cryptids that are most likely to be something other than simple misidentification and exaggerated stories are the continued existence of the thylacine, and the orang pendek.
After seeing the truly idiotic Deep South Paranormal once, I'm totally done with the redneck paranormal/cryptid meme. They had this redneck with a "voodoo stick" that he would shake up and down. I was hoping for a Deep South Paranormal/Honey Boo Boo crossover episode, but no such luck.
I watch them for entertainment. The best cryptid episode I've seen lately is the thylacine episode of Josh Gates' Expedition Unknown, which featured a couple of video clips I hadn't seen before -- and he went out with researchers to sites where there were possible thylacine dens. My opinion: the cryptids that are most likely to be something other than simple misidentification and exaggerated stories are the continued existence of the thylacine, and the orang pendek.
After seeing the truly idiotic Deep South Paranormal once, I'm totally done with the redneck paranormal/cryptid meme. They had this redneck with a "voodoo stick" that he would shake up and down. I was hoping for a Deep South Paranormal/Honey Boo Boo crossover episode, but no such luck.
Lol. I know what you mean. Hell, if all it takes to make some good coin and have a monster hunter show is som of what I've seen, sign me up! The thylacine? That's that big Pleistocene predator that almost looks like a big cross twit a dog and a pig right? Long snout with an upward curving lower jaw and teeth like a T rex? That's one I've got an interest in. The ones I'd like to make an expedition of my own to track are those "hissin critters" or devil dogs that keep showing up back in OK and other MW and Southern areas. They interest me. Sort of a hyena hybrid type animal.
Destination Unknown is of highe quality than a lot of these other shows. Yea, Honey Boo Boo meets Duck Dynasty isn't really piquing my mental process.
But those shows are hilarious to watch. Mountain Monsters needs better script writers, but is pretty good comedy. Finding Bigfoot, I'd like to have a beer with Bobo and Renee and ask how they travel with Moneymaker without just using him for monster bait.
The thylacine? That's that big Pleistocene predator that almost looks like a big cross twit a dog and a pig right? Long snout with an upward curving lower jaw and teeth like a T rex? That's one I've got an interest in.
They were marsupial carnivores, last one supposedly died in a zoo in the 1930s but there have been a lot of sightings ever since. They had a dog-like look, an example of convergent evolution but had a stiff marsupial tail and a jaw that opened to frightening proportions. Here's a photo:
They were marsupial carnivores, last one supposedly died in a zoo in the 1930s but there have been a lot of sightings ever since. They had a dog-like look, an example of convergent evolution but had a stiff marsupial tail and a jaw that opened to frightening proportions. Here's a photo:
A nice shot of the open jaws:
Amphycion is the critter I was thinking of. There is a theory that it was such an animal that started the werewolf killing incident in 15th century France. Otherwise known as the bear dog. Mega predator. Those are cool pics btw.
Amphycion is the critter I was thinking of. There is a theory that it was such an animal that started the werewolf killing incident in 15th century France. Otherwise known as the bear dog. Mega predator. Those are cool pics btw.
Oh, yeah -- Amphycion's one bad-@ss predator.
Here's a video of the last thylacines in captivity:
I'm just consumed with curiosity about these animals. Those thylacines are a fascinating animal. The "devil dogs" I have been hearing about are one I want to go and hunt myself. Descriptions and the skelotons that have been found depict a hyeaodon type animal. Low in the back, high and heavy in the front with bone crushing jaws. Reportedly very strong and aggressive, able to take full grown cattle down and tear them apart.
I have a theory that they are a hybrid animal. Possibly bred by dog fighting types. The hyena features are what puzzle me. Hybriding hyenas with other canines would seem to be above the capabilities of backyard "breeders". Perhaps some more advanced husbandry experiment, government or other well funded outfit, that got away from them, or was set loose for purposes unknown. Perhaps escaped exotics. Hyenas kept as status animals. But cross breeding with either feral domestics or animals like coyotes seems unlikely, though perhaps within possibility. I need to do some research about that, as I don't know about the DNA compatibility of hyenas with other canine animals. It was once thought impossible for coyotes and domestic dogs to breed, and coyotes and wolves as well. This has been proven quite false. I had a coyote hybrid dog when I was younger. Theres a good pic of him in my profile.
He was VERY formidable, extremely intelligent, and until I had him fixed, quite intractable to training. He never would respond to command from anyone but me through his whole life. That these cryptids could be the result of cross breeding I find quite likely. Others, in more remote areas like the AK wilderness could indeed be ice age holdovers that have developed adaptations and physical differences from the original species via natural evolution. Whether canine, bruin or feline, I believe that nature, and possibly man assisted, animals are loose out there. If ever I am in a position to put together and equip a proper group to go looking, I will do so.
I have a group of people I know well that would be a great team. Veterinarians, hunters, and serious outdoorsman, a wildlife biologist, animal husbandry specialists, and a few just good , solid thinking people. Lol, money and time is what's in short supply. People and equipment are not so problematic. It's a dream, but one I'm looking to make a reality someday.
The hyena features are what puzzle me. Hybriding hyenas with other canines would seem to be above the capabilities of backyard "breeders". ... Hyenas kept as status animals. But cross breeding with either feral domestics or animals like coyotes seems unlikely, though perhaps within possibility. I need to do some research about that, as I don't know about the DNA compatibility of hyenas with other canine animals.
Hyenas aren't canids at all, they're in their own family and hence are not cross-fertile with canids. They're actually more closely related to cats than to dogs.
Neither hyenas nor canids could breed with thylacines, which are marsupials and hence not cross fertile with carnivora like hyenas and canids. If they were to bring the thylacines back through genetic engineering, it would be using a marsupial host like a Tasmanian devil.
Last edited by Vasily; 02-22-2017 at 10:44 AM..
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I would like to see a team made up of people who have a clue on these shows. Made up of animal behavior experts (with real field experience) hunters, who are very knowledgeable about predator behavior, people with real woodcraft and know how go after these animals. Folks that realize the difference (at least) of up from downwind. That might help. 
And there's a disclaimer on the show about "don't try this at home boys and girls"., and how dangerous hunting cryptids is. Ummmm, yea. They should take their own advice from what I've seen.
