Comments on: Cryptoéléphants: Animaux Cachés (Hidden Animals)

By: Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:51:16 +0000

Yes, indeed, Arctodus. "Arsinoitherium is an extinct genus of paenungulate mammal related to elephants, and hyraxes (Embrithopoda). These species were rhinoceros-like herbivores that lived during the late Eocene and the early Oligocene, from 36 to 30 million years ago, in areas of tropical rainforest, and at the margin of swamps. "When alive, it would have superficially resembled a rhinoceros, and have been about 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) tall at the shoulders, and 3 metres (9.8 ft) long." Source. Matt, not sure. I only have snippets of the book. Have to wait for the publication in a couple months for more details.

By: Arctodus

Arctodus — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:52:10 +0000

Just a heads-up Mr. Coleman, Arsinoitherium was an Embrithopodan, which are Afrotheres closely related to hyraxes.

By: MattBille

MattBille — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:24:25 +0000

Is the author going off an old description of the tusk from 1904, or has he seen it? If it’s unfossilized and a tooth, it should yield DNA.

By: Fhqwhgads

Fhqwhgads — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:01:16 +0000

This is still a long shot, but the odds are much better for something like this being found than for most cryptozoological creatures.

But you have to handle this kind of thing carefully. If the natives know that if the animal is found, its endangered species protections will displace them and/or disrupt their lives (banning fishing, for example), they may go to lengths to conceal any evidence from outsiders. I’ve heard of Siberian natives destroying mammoths found frozen in the tundra for this kind of reason.

By: Richard888

Richard888 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:56:59 +0000

Does Ethiopia have thick forests in which large mammals could be hiding? I thought it was an arid, sparsely vegetated country.

By: Dj Plasmic Nebula

Dj Plasmic Nebula — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:22:02 +0000

Maybe “Emela-Ntouka” will be found to be these prehistoric elephants.

There’s always a possibility also that Emela-Ntouka is an unknown aquatic rhino or something else unknown. Thanks for this post Loren. This leaves us with more plausible theories to the Emela-Ntouka.

My birthday is tomorrow. I wonder what animal will be discovered on my birthday. Maybe new images of something unknown. Hmmmmm.

By: Sordes

Sordes — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:48:07 +0000

There was a wide size-range among Deinotherium-like animals. Some were of similar sizes to the modern Indian or African elephants (which have of course already a wide size range); others even dwarfed the largest living African bull elephants, like Deinotherium giganteum, which reached well over 10 tonnes. But there were also very small species like Prodeinotherium hoblyi from Libya, which was only about 2.2 m at the shoulder.

By: Lightning Orb

Lightning Orb — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:54:19 +0000

Very cool. Is it possible though this cryptophant is actually the Ambelodon? Looking at that drawing it seems like the tusks are more from the upper jaw. I don't know too much about bone structures I'm afraid, but can't help notice if that Ambelodon's jaw were further back and pointed up it would look more like the drawing. Also it would make the creature's teeth positioned in a more rodent-like way, and I think elephants are supposed to be distantly related to rodents. I could be wrong on this, but is it possible?

By: Uriah

Uriah — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:16:03 +0000

Does the book consider the possibility that this might be Mokele-mbembe?

(If it has already been considered, please forgive my ignorance. Cryptozoology is really only an interest of mine, I am not that well read on the matter.)

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:26:26 +0000

It would be a momentous discovery if these prehistoric elephants were indeed still living in darkest Africa. It would, at least, open the door for consideration of other similar "dinosaur cryptids" being still alive in Africa.