ISC Newsletter - Vol 05 No 1 - 1986

Magazine Overview

Title: The ISC Newsletter
Issue: Vol. 5, No. 1
Date: Spring 1986
Publisher: International Society of Cryptozoology
Editor: J. Richard Greenwell

This issue of The ISC Newsletter focuses heavily on the acquisition and initial study of a female Onza specimen, a cryptid Mexican cat. It also includes discussions on the challenges facing cryptozoology from mainstream scientific perspectives and brief news items on other potential cryptozoological discoveries.

ONZA SPECIMEN OBTAINED-IDENTITY BEING STUDIED

The lead article details the remarkable circumstances surrounding the acquisition of a female Onza specimen shot in January 1986 by Andres Rodriguez in Sinaloa, Mexico. This is presented as the first specimen of the Onza available to science since the 1938 Shirk Onza, which was subsequently lost. The Onza is described as a Mexican cat similar in size and coloration to a puma (Felis concolor) but more gracile, with longer legs, and reported to be more aggressive and rarer. It is said to inhabit the mountainous regions of northwestern Mexico.

The Onza was shot by Rodriguez while he was deer hunting at night. He initially mistook it for a deer due to its glowing eyes but then recognized it as a large cat. Fearing it might be a jaguar, he shot it. Upon closer inspection, he and his companion, Ricardo Zamora, realized it was not a jaguar and looked different from a puma. The animal was preserved and brought to the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory of Animal Pathology in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, for examination.

Through a series of events, including prior contact with ISC representatives Richard Greenwell and Robert Marshall, the specimen was brought to the attention of American investigators. J. Richard Greenwell, ISC Secretary, and Troy Best, a zoologist from the University of New Mexico specializing in puma skull measurements, planned a dissection. Due to difficulties in obtaining Mexican scientific export permits, the dissection was conducted in Mexico on February 20, 1986, with the cooperation of Mexico's federal Ministry of Agriculture.

During the dissection, the female Onza was noted to have a gracile body, long slender legs, and a long tail. Its ears were longer than a puma's, and it had small horizontal stripes on its forelimbs, features not found in pumas. It showed well-developed mammae and was estimated to be at least 4 years old. Its weight was approximately 27 kg, and its total length was 186 cm, with a tail length of 73 cm. A wound on a rear leg suggested a prior confrontation, possibly with a jaguar.

The study aims to determine the Onza's genetic and evolutionary relationships. This involves comparing its limb bones to those of female pumas and conducting electrophoresis on tissue and blood samples. Ned Gentz, a graduate student specializing in electrophoresis, assisted the team. Preliminary indications from comparing limb bones suggest the Onza's bones are longer than those of pumas, potentially indicating a new species.

Further research will focus on osteological comparisons, particularly limb bone length variation in pumas, and biochemical analyses. The latter includes electrophoresis to distinguish species based on protein particle migration rates and immunological response analysis to measure protein concentrations and determine genetic distance.

Historical Context and Previous Sightings

The article delves into the history of the Onza, tracing mentions back to early Spanish chroniclers like Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who described a wolf-like cat distinct from the puma and jaguar. The name 'Onza' is believed to derive from the Latin 'uncia,' originally referring to the Afro-Asian cheetah, suggesting a connection to long, slender legs. Jesuit chroniclers like Father Ignaz Pfefferkorn and Father Johann Jakob Baegert also documented sightings in Sonora and Baja California, describing it as having a longer, thinner body than a puma.

F. T. Davila noted its presence in Sonora in 1894. However, early zoological investigations often dismissed Onza reports, assuming they were misidentified pumas. The similarity in name to the jaguar (Panthera onca) also contributed to confusion.

The issue highlights the 1938 incident involving Dale and Clell Lee, who shot a cat in Sinaloa they claimed was not a puma. This 'Shirk Onza' was photographed and measured, but the skin and skull were lost, and the Lees faced disbelief and ridicule from the scientific community. Robert Marshall later researched the Onza, publishing a book in 1961, but it received little scientific attention.

Dale Lee, now elderly, maintains his conviction that the 1938 cat was not a puma, noting its longer, narrower legs compared to pumas. He and Robert Marshall see the 1986 specimen as a potential vindication.

Helmut Hemmer's Hypothesis and Rejection

German mammalogist Helmut Hemmer proposed in 1984 that the Onza might be a modern representative of the extinct Pleistocene North American cheetah, Acinonyx (Miracinonyx) trumani. This hypothesis was based on the cheetah-like trait of longer limbs for efficient locomotion. However, after examining casts of Onza skulls, Greenwell and Daniel Adams concluded that significant differences from the Pleistocene fossils demonstrated that the Onza is not a living example of Acinonyx trumani. Dr. Hemmer, upon examining the 1986 specimen's bones, remains convinced the Onza is not a normal puma.

Jared Diamond Tackles Cryptozoology

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to a critique of cryptozoology by Jared Diamond, a physiologist and ornithologist. Diamond, who previously reported the rediscovery of the yellow-fronted gardener bowerbird, wrote an article for Discover magazine in March 1985 titled "In Quest of the Wild and Weird." In it, he stated that cryptozoology would be fine if it didn't focus on the 'Big Four' (Nessie, Yeti, Sasquatch, Mokele-Mbembe) and that animals in question "continue to elude cryptozoologists... despite extensive searches."

Diamond criticized cryptozoological literature for "implausible claims," "gullibly accepted second-hand accounts," and "possibly fraud." He argued that the modern emphasis in biology is on molecular studies (like DNA) and that seeking large new species is viewed as an "embarrassing anachronism." He also stated that new species discoveries by the end of the century would not include Sasquatch, Nessie, or dinosaurs, though he allowed for the possibility of the Yeti based on "tantalizing droppings and footprints."

ISC President Bernard Heuvelmans and Vice President Roy Mackal responded to Diamond's criticisms. Heuvelmans noted that cryptozoology deals with supposed animals for which testimonial or cultural evidence exists, regardless of size. Mackal, whose early biochemical research contributed to genetic engineering, took issue with being labeled an "embarrassing anachronism."

Diamond also published an article in Nature questioning the number of undiscovered species, focusing on mammal genera. He presented data on new mammal genera discovered by decade, which differed slightly from George Gaylord Simpson's earlier tabulation. He incorrectly stated that no new primate or carnivore genera had been discovered since the early century and that no new duck species had been found in 50 years.

Dr. Diamond acknowledged to the Editor that he had not read ISC's publications before writing his Discover article. The article also touches on Diamond's thoughts on the destruction of habitat and species extinction, implying cryptozoology might be blamed.

News & Notes

This section provides brief updates on various cryptozoological topics:

• Tenticular Ending: Reports from New Zealand describe two fishermen being killed by giant octopuses, with sizes estimated at 9 to 12 feet long, potentially indicating a new species or larger-than-usual individuals.
• Some Like It Cold: A species of midge was discovered living in the coldest insect habitat in the world, at 18,000 feet on Nepal's Yala Glacier, unique for its complete life cycle in snow and ice.
• Who's Your Insurance Company?: A sighting of a large, snake-like creature in Shuswap Lake, British Columbia, was reported by a family. The animal was estimated to be 20 to 25 feet long and moved quickly.
• The Snowman Returneth: This section addresses criticisms of Yeti and Snowman reports by Soviet explorer Vadim Ranov, countered by positive statements from Andrei Kozlov, who has collected thousands of sighting reports and plaster casts of footprints in the Caucasus and Tyan-Shan Mountains. Kozlov believes these are relic hominoids, possibly related to Neanderthal Man, and suggests capturing one is necessary for proof.
• Hippoturtleox: A brief mention of a strange animal killed in a Tibetan lake in 1972, described as ox-like with turtle legs, short horns, and hippopotamus-like skin.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing search for and identification of unknown animal species, the challenges of scientific validation in cryptozoology, and the historical context of cryptid investigations. The editorial stance, as expressed by J. Richard Greenwell, favors a rigorous, logical, and objective approach to studying cryptozoological phenomena, contrasting it with what he perceives as cynicism or an "easy way out" of ridicule. The Society aims to move beyond mere speculation to definitive conclusions through scientific investigation, as exemplified by the Onza specimen study.

The ISC Newsletter, Spring 1986, Vol. 5, No. 1, is a publication from the International Society of Cryptozoology. This issue features a "Cryptoletters" section with correspondence from readers, a section titled "Wood's Animal Facts," and general newsletter information.

Cryptoletters

This section contains letters from readers addressing various topics related to cryptozoology.

Letter from Louis Deadman

Louis Deadman of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.A., questions the identification of the "Nessie" photo as an otter's tail, stating that the size and shape of the object in the photo do not appear consistent with an otter and seem more distant and longer than 2 feet, 3 inches.

Letter from John E. Wall

John E. Wall of Altona, Manitoba, Canada, responds to an article titled "Evolutionist Simpson Criticizes Cryptozoology" (Winter, 1984). He questions why less eminent critics would be confused if Simpson was, and suggests that cryptozoologists sometimes reach into the remote past for solutions (e.g., plesiosaurs, archaic whales, pterodactyls), which may give them a "dotty" appearance to other scientists. He attributes blame to those in positions of influence and authority who ought to know better, and to nonscientific elements disliked by a scientific caste. Wall suggests that a solution to a great cryptozoological mystery would shock the "establishment" into wakefulness and that humility and calm, educational efforts by the Society are needed to clarify misconceptions.

Letter from Michael Heaney

Michael Heaney of Bodleian Library, Oxford, England, U.K., corrects the editor's comments on Soviet terminology and attitudes regarding "Abominable Snowman" and "Yeti." He explains that these terms first appeared in the Soviet press in 1957 regarding supposed Himalayan creatures. The terms "Snowman" and "Yeti" are used interchangeably in the Soviet Union for their own wildmen. Heaney notes that Boris Porshnev investigated these reports and suggested that hairy bipeds could be explained as sightings of relic Neantherthaloids, a suggestion he acknowledges as implausible. Heaney cites Porshnev's works, including "L'Homme de Neanderthal est Toujours Vivant" (1974) and an article in "Current Anthropology" (1974), and mentions a reply by Dmitri Bayanov and Igor Burtsev in 1976.

The editor acknowledges Heaney's clarification, noting that he was unaware of the interchangeable use of "Yeti" and "Snowman" in the Soviet Union. The editor also mentions that comments from Dmitri Bayanov were not received by press time but refers readers to an update in "News and Notes."

Wood's Animal Facts

This section presents facts about the blue whale, abstracted from "The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats" by Gerald L. Wood.

Blue Whale Characteristics

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is identified as the largest and heaviest mammal and the largest marine animal ever recorded. Two races are recognized: the northern blue whale (B. m. musculus) in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, and the southern blue whale (B. m. intermedia) in the Southern Hemisphere.

Largest Recorded Blue Whales

The largest accurately measured blue whale on record was a female from South Georgia, measuring 107 Norwegian fot (approximately 110 ft., 2.5 in. or 33.59 m.), recorded between 1904 and 1920. Seven other blue whales over 100 ft. (30.48 m.) were taken in the Southern Ocean between 1922 and 1925. The Tonsberg Whaling Company measured a 104 ft., 2 in. (31.75 m.) specimen at South Georgia, with a maximum girth of 45 ft. (13.7 m.).

Shortly after World War I, a 102 ft. 4 in. (31.19 m.) female was brought into a shore station at Donkergat, Saldanha Bay, South Africa. Another whale processed there was longer than the 100-ft. flensing platform. According to International Whaling Statistics, 13 blue whales between 100 ft. and 102 ft. (30.48-31.09 m.) have been caught in the Southern Hemisphere since 1930.

The largest accurately measured northern blue whale was likely a 92-ft. (28-m.) female from the Balaena shore station in Hermitage Bay, Newfoundland, in May 1903. In the North Pacific, the largest American catch in 1919-1920 was a female measuring 90 ft., 2 in. (27.48 m.).

Historical Records and Limitations

During the early days of whaling, lengths exceeding 100 ft. (30.5 m.) were reported for northern blue whales, but these might have been exaggerated or measured along the body's curves. A 120-ft. (36.68-m.) specimen washed ashore near Ultrecht, Holland, around 1547 is mentioned.

The text explains that while water buoyancy supports whales, they cannot exceed certain dimensions due to the relative decrease in the size of internal organs (lungs, intestines, kidneys) as body mass increases. This limits their size, with the "crunch" likely occurring between 110 ft. (33.5 m.) and 120 ft. (36.6 m.).

Society Information

The issue includes a list of Honorary Members and Benefactors of the International Society of Cryptozoology. The society's address is P.O. Box 43070, Tucson, Arizona 85733, U.S.A. It also notes its non-profit status and permit information for postage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of cryptozoological evidence and methodology, the challenges of public perception and scientific skepticism, and the dissemination of factual information about animals that border on the extraordinary. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging open discussion and educational efforts within the field, while also providing factual data and historical context, as seen in the "Wood's Animal Facts" section. The "Cryptoletters" section highlights the Society's willingness to engage with reader feedback and address diverse viewpoints on cryptozoological topics.