The Search for the Last Undiscovered Animals

by Karl Shuker

Thanks to an ever-growing number of startling zoological discoveries, Cryptozoology (the study of hidden animals) has become an increasingly hot topic. As researchers probe deeper and deeper into jungles and wilderness areas, they uncover astonishing species of animals and plants that were previously unknown or only the subjects of folklore or rumor. For years, Dr. Karl P. N. Shuker has been researching these creatures on the borderline of the known. In the Search for the Last Undiscovered animals, he tells their stories, providng entertaining, carefully researched narratives about these mysterious, mythological-like creatures. Among his astounding The dobhar-chu, Ireland's mysterious master otter. Mongolia's death worm, which reportedly electrocutes its victims. The bloodrinking "death bird" of Ethiopia. The tzuchinoko, a bizarre Japanese snake with a bounty on its horned head. The Chinese ink monkey, no larger than a mouse. Hairy reptiles, furry fish, crypto-bats, man-eating plants, and more..Shuker apples a rigourous scientific method to these reports of animals whose existence is not yet formally recognized. Even-handedly, he presents the evidence, then analyzes these eyewitness acoutns and second-hand testimony and offers an opinion on whether these sightings are mistaken, the stuff of legend, or clear evidence of creatures who roamed or still roam our earth.

Genres: Cryptozoology, Science, Nonfiction, Animals

322 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Dr. Karl P.N. Shuker BSc PhD FRES FZS is a zoologist who is internationally recognised as a world expert in cryptozoology (the scientific investigation of mystery animals whose existence or identity has yet to be formally ascertained), as well as in animal mythology and allied subjects relating to wildlife anomalies and inexplicabilia. He obtained a BSc (Honours) degree in pure zoology at the University of Leeds (U.K.), and a PhD in zoology and comparative physiology at the University of Birmingham (U.K.). He is now a freelance zoological consultant and writer, living in the West Midlands, England.

Reviews

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anthology of mostly previously-published essays, this is a decent introduction to some of the lesser-known but more likely to be real cryptids (animals unknown to science but believed to be real but local communities). Many of the essays provide summaries of sitings of the cryptids, likely scientific classifications of the animals, and details of attempts by the scientific community to prove or disprove the existence of the animals. Other essays amount to little more than lists of the author's accomplishments ("I first brought this animal to light in this essay, then published this other article, then wrote this book you should read) and provide little of interest. Overall, I'd say the good outweighs the bad and this is a reasonable work on cryptozoology for those who don't know much about the field.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was really disappointing. The subject of cryptozoology could be incredibly interesting. This is a yawn. It has some interesting ideas about the origins of some of these creatures but for the most part it is just rambling. I'm not gonna say you shouldn't read it. I will read my books multiple times but this one is permanently retired.

[Russ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mongolian death worms!

[Allison Thurman]

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