Exotic Zoology - Vol 2 No 5 - 1995

Magazine Overview

Title: EXOTIC ZOOLOGY
Issue: Vol. 2, #5
Date: September/October 1995
Editor: Matthew A. Bille
Type: The Bimonthly Magazine of Cryptozoology

Recent Discoveries: Brazil's Barrel of Monkeys

This article details recent discoveries of new primate species in Brazil, building upon earlier reports. It revisits three previously mentioned finds: *Saimiri vanzolinii* (a dark-furred squirrel monkey from the upper Amazon basin), *Leontopithecus caissara* (the black-faced lion tamarin from the island of Superagui), and *Callithrix mauesi* (the Rio Maues marmoset, described in 1992). The article notes that the marmoset received significant attention due to its perceived adorableness, while the lion tamarin's discovery on a populated island was particularly surprising, likened by Conservation International president Russell Mittermeier to finding a new species in the Los Angeles suburbs.

The article then introduces two additional monkey species recently described. The first is *Callithrix nigriceps*, the black-headed marmoset, discovered in 1992 near Humaita on the Madeira River. This species has a restricted range and is part of the bare-eared marmoset subgenus, distinguished by the absence of ear tufts. The second is *Cebus kaapori*, the Kaʼapor capuchin, a larger primate discovered in the state of Maranhao, which was already known to local native tribes. Both *C. nigriceps* and *C. kaapori* are noted to be under pressure from habitat destruction and human development.

Finally, the article touches upon taxonomic revisions that have led to the recognition of *Callithrix intermedia* and *Callicebus hoffmannsi* as distinct species, suggesting that much remains to be learned about primate diversity.

Whatever Happened To... The King Bee

This section recounts the story of *Chalicodoma pluto*, the king bee, a remarkable species of bee discovered by naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace in the Molucca Islands in 1859. This bee was distinguished by its enormous size (over an inch and a half long), black color with white markings, and large mandibles. Despite its striking characteristics, the species vanished from scientific view after Wallace collected two female specimens. The bee remained a mystery for over 120 years until Dr. Adam Messer, a University of Georgia graduate student, successfully rediscovered it in 1981. Messer confirmed its survival on at least three islands in the chain. The article highlights unusual traits of the king bee, including its eschewing of honey production, its non-social behavior, and its habit of residing in termite-bored tree nests, lined with resin. It also notes that the female is significantly larger than the male, leading to the suggestion that the species was both misplaced and misnamed.

Mystery Animals: Cadborosaurus Willsi

This segment introduces the ongoing debate surrounding the existence of a large, serpentine sea monster, often referred to as "Cadborosaurus" or "Caddy," particularly in the Pacific Northwest. The article discusses the work of Canadian scientists Drs. Edward Bousfield and Paul LeBlond, who have published a scientific paper and a book, *Cadborosaurus: Survivor From the Deep*, proposing that this creature is a real reptile, *Cadborosaurus willsi*.

The centerpiece of their argument is a strange carcass found in the stomach of a sperm whale in 1937 at the Naden Harbor whaling station in British Columbia. The carcass, photographed at the time, is described as a thin, crumpled snake-like object approximately 3.5 meters long and 15 cm thick, with visible front flippers and what appear to be hind flippers or tail flukes. The head is described as camel-like with a drooping snout. While the object was identified by some as a fetal baleen whale, Bousfield and LeBlond dispute this, citing the lack of resemblance to a whale fetus and the implausibility of a sperm whale preying on baleen whales.

The authors propose that *Caddy* is a large, fish-eating reptile with a slow metabolism, suited to the cold waters off British Columbia. They suggest its reported "mane" might be skin filaments, and cite two reports of smaller, reptilian "baby Caddys" as further evidence. The article includes a comment from the author expressing agreement that the photograph likely represents an unknown sea animal but questioning the assignment to reptiles and the verification of the "baby" stories.

Cadborosaurus (Continued)

This continuation discusses the authors' conclusion that *Cadborosaurus* is a reptile. They argue that the cold waters of British Columbia are unsuitable for a large, elongated mammal with a high surface-area-to-mass ratio and lacking significant blubber, suggesting a reptile with a slow metabolism is more plausible. The creature's alleged "mane" is theorized to be skin filaments, similar to those on the hairy frog. Bousfield and LeBlond also rely on two reports of smaller, reptilian "baby Caddys" (.5 meters long) from single witnesses. The author expresses skepticism about the reptile classification and the unverified "baby" stories, quoting Richard Ellis's cautious stance on the existence of such creatures.

News and Comment

This section provides several brief updates:

• Dolphin Species: The vindication of *Delphinus capensis*, a once-discounted long-beaked dolphin species, is reported, based on recent studies of skeletal remains and DNA analysis confirming its distinction from *Delphinus delphis*.
• Puma Survival: The Eastern Puma Research Network and Friends of the Eastern Panther are mentioned as organizations dedicated to proving the survival of these animals. A report from Minnesota details a puma capture in 1993 and raises questions about the origin of black pumas in North America.
• New Animal Descriptions: Several new animal discoveries are highlighted in brief "News Clips": a nightjar from Ethiopia, an extinct-seeming wasp from California, a new genus of tortoise from Australia (*Elusor*), and the rediscovery of the pygmy mouse lemur (*Microcebus myoxinus*) on Madagascar.

Resources

This section lists relevant books and periodicals for further research:

• Books: *Among Whales* by Roger Payne, *The Lives of Whales and Dolphins* by Richard Connor and Dawn Peterson, *The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins* by Stephen Leatherwood, *The Book of Whales and Dolphins* by Richard Ellis, and *Dolphins and Porpoises: A Worldwide Guide* by Jean-Pierre Sylvestre.
• Periodicals: "Hawaii's Vanishing Species" in *National Geographic* and "The sea is a very big place" in *Nature*, a review of Richard Ellis' *Monsters of the Sea*.

Editor's Page

Purpose: The editor defines cryptozoology as the scientific subspecialty of finding new or supposedly extinct species, aiming to restore its proper usage beyond sensationalized accounts.

In Closing: Readers are encouraged to join the International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC). Contact information for ISC Secretary Richard Greenwell is provided. The magazine *Exotic Zoology* is published by Matthew A. Bille, who is an ISC member, but *EZ* is not an official ISC publication. Subscription details ($18/year in the U.S., $20 elsewhere) and availability of back issues are mentioned. Guest articles are welcome.

Important Notice: The editor announces a delay in the publication of his book, *Rumors of Existence*, due to publisher scheduling changes, with a new release date at the end of October. ISBN and ordering information are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on cryptozoology, the study of unknown or undiscovered animals. The editorial stance emphasizes a scientific approach, seeking evidence for new or rediscovered species, as articulated in the Editor's Page. The issue covers a range of topics from newly described primates to legendary creatures like sea serpents and the long-lost king bee, all presented with a tone that encourages investigation and scientific rigor, while acknowledging the inherent mystery and romantic appeal of these subjects. The recurring theme is the ongoing discovery and rediscovery of life forms, challenging conventional understanding and expanding the known biological world.