Folklore and Zoology

About this book

A scientific excursion into folklore, zoology, and cryptozoology, this text highlights a field, often called a pseudoscience, which seriously considers the possible existence of hidden or unknown animals not recognised in conventional zoology. Folklore and Zoology accessibly reviews the science of DNA samples; film and photograph analysis; hair and footprint examination; and the statistics behind such alleged animals as Sasquatch and the Yeti, Nessie and Champ, the Griffin and the Thunderbirds, and the possible survival of the thylacine, ivory-billed woodpecker, eastern cougar, and others. With over 400 references, Folklore and Zoology is among the most complete scientific reviews of cryptozoology to date, with discussion of the history and future, and successes and failures of this controversial and fascinating field, offering a fresh synthesis of a highly interdisciplinary literature. This book is ideal reading for students and academics interested in and studying zoology, palaeontology, and folklore courses.

Contents

1. Introduction to Folklore & Zoology
2. Primates. Sasquatch (or Bigfoot). Yeti (or Abominable Snowman)
3. Big Cats. Eastern Cougar (and Onza). British 'Beasts' (of Exmoor, Bodmin Moor...)
4. Birds. Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (or Log God). Thunderbird. Griffin
5. Other Terrestrial Animals. Cyclops (or Giants). Mapinguari (or Juma). Sivatheres (and Okapi). Thylacine (or Tasmanian Tiger)
6. Lake 'Monsters'. Loch Ness Monster (or Nessie). Lake Champlain Monster (or Champ). Mokele-Mbembe (or Living Dinosaurs)
7. Sea 'Serpents'. Ri (or Mermaid). Kraken (or Colossal Octopus). Cadborosaurus (or Caddy)
8. Conclusion to Folklore & Zoology

Customer Reviews

Biography

Floe Foxon is an interdisciplinary scientist with a BSc (Hons) in Physics with Astronomy from the University of Nottingham. Floe has peer-reviewed publications on a wide range of topics from the structure of the Sun and stars, the impact of e-cigarettes on public health, the use of machine learning techniques in palaeontology and cryptography, and statistical approaches to the study of animals in folklore. Floe has presented research at scientific conferences internationally, has industry experience as a data scientist, and is currently pursuing an MSc in Data Science (Statistics) from the University of Leeds. Floe's research has appeared in New Scientist, Science News, and Popular Mechanics.