Talk:List of cryptids

Non-Cryptid: Eastern Cougar
I feel that including the eastern cougar on this list is inaccurate. As source 23 explains, the cougar is included here because it was thought to be a cryptid before it was discovered, however this list is for creatures "unsubstantiated by science" which the eastern cougar now is Heronperson (talk) 01:52, 4 November 2023 (UTC)


 * Per this recent review, all of the cougars documented in the eastern U.S. (outside Florida) in recent years are likely escaped captives or wanderers from western populations, but there is no evidence of a breeding population in the eastern states. It is likely that most of the reported sightings of cougars in the eastern U.S. are mistaken. There is room, I believe, to argue that the "resident breeding eastern cougar" remains a cryptid. Whether that is sufficient for it to be included in this list is the question. Donald Albury 12:34, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
 * For my money, I would agree with removing it on two grounds. First and generally, I am still sceptical of the idea that EW critters belong on this list. The rationale largely revolves around rumoured paleontological relicts (mokèlé-mbèmbé, et al), but I remain unconvinced that recent relict populations of known species belong here. I am convinced that there is a distinction between a Lazarus taxon and a stray breeding pair of ivory-billed woodpeckers, even if I cannot articulate it. Second and specifically, I am equally unconvinced that the eastern cougar ever existed at all separate from the Florida Panther (if even it is a valid subspecies of p. concolor). Florida may simply serve as the last remaining stronghold of an eastern puma variety; or puma never existed in the non-Everglade east, and sightings are merely of wanderers from the south or west. In either case, it's not a cryptid but a known species roaming novel (or reclaimed) territory. All that said, I expect consensus will be to keep the entry because there are enough sources that match the eastern cougar to our (thus far unwritten) selection criteria. Just my 2p. Cheers, Last1in (talk) 00:35, 6 November 2023 (UTC)
 * It is a popular misconception from both extreme sides of the debate about the status of cryptozoology that cz only concerns itself with weird strange folkloric entities. This is a misconception. Prior to 2000, cryptozoology very much concerned itself with Lazarus taxa, recent animals considered extinct and the like, see the journal of the ISC, "Cryptozoology". One off weirdies like mothman and lizardmen etc. were hardly if ever discussed (and if then solely in a zoological context). So if Wikipedia has a page of cryptids (and I am not sure it should but that is a different story), woodpeckers, eastern cougars, stray coelacanths etc. should all be included as they were all part of the remit of cryptozoology and cryptids by its founder's own definition Heuvelmans B (1982) What is cryptozoology? Cryptozoology 1:1–12. I think this confusion arises from the historically incorrect definition of cryptozoology on the cryptozoology page. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.251.183.189 (talk) 16:57, 6 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Bernard Heuvelmans referred to these as "unexpected" animals when discussing cryptozoology. I'd argue that, even if the DNA tests show they're a population and not a subspecies, that they're still significant just like reports of wild big cat populations in Europe are KanyeWestDropout (talk) 16:14, 9 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Good points from both of you. You've convinced me that the Eastern Cougar is a cryptid. To get another whack in on the late and apparently unlamented horse, a good SELCRIT would have mooted this debate. Just sayin'. Cheers, Last1in (talk) 13:56, 10 November 2023 (UTC)
 * The problem is the link to pseudoscience and do all the people who study this question deserve that title? 142.163.195.114 (talk) 14:25, 18 March 2024 (UTC)
 * If RS say so yes. Slatersteven (talk) 14:26, 18 March 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 February 2024
Remove Megalodon as its existence as an extinct creature has been proven by scientists. 2600:1010:B19C:6F3:DAF:32A5:800:999A (talk) 19:53, 19 February 2024 (UTC) — Urro[ talk ] [ edits ] ⋮ 14:00, 20 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made.
 * I don't think citations for Megalodon as a fossil are relevant. Megalodon is in the list because people are claiming it still exists. This issue would be more whether there is notable cryptozoological literature about it. (I think that it's status as a cryptid is dubious, but its existence as a fossil isn't relevant to that status.) Lavateraguy (talk) 15:41, 20 February 2024 (UTC)
 * There absolutely is notable cryptozoological literature about it, though its mostly skeptical in nature. KanyeWestDropout (talk) 04:45, 12 March 2024 (UTC)

Steller's sea ape
hardly seems fair to include this and so imply that Steller and the other zoologists were pseudoscientists. 142.163.195.114 (talk) 14:19, 18 March 2024 (UTC)
 * If RS say it is a cryptid, we do. Slatersteven (talk) 14:27, 18 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Oh good lord. Steller made his observation in 1741 of what was probably a northern fur seal, as the Steller's sea ape article says. Much of what was accepted as sound science then is now considered pseudoscience. Carlstak (talk) 18:53, 18 March 2024 (UTC)

Moa non cryptic
Moa is an actual extinct species of flightless birds with multiple subspecies. Went extinct after the arrival of Polynesians in New Zealand. Doesn’t seem like it should be on list NotherdayinParadise (talk) 17:04, 19 March 2024 (UTC)
 * True, but sightings of living ones are. Slatersteven (talk) 17:20, 19 March 2024 (UTC)

Ufology
UfO's are now a proven fact given the events, footage and hearings released by the US government and do not belong in the category of cryptids. 173.49.152.23 (talk) 04:25, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * UFO just means that someone has not identified it. So, it has always been a proven fact. It's like "unsolved crimes". Of course they exist.
 * If you mean aliens instead of UFOs, it is still bullshit. The US government is not a reliable source.
 * UFOs are not in the list of cryptids. They are just mentioned in passing. What exactly do you want to change? --Hob Gadling (talk) 07:55, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
 * this. Slatersteven (talk) 10:40, 13 May 2024 (UTC)