American Pterosaurs
Can Megan convince Paddy that Pterosaurs still soar over the USA? That they survived the mass extinction 65 million years ago? Grab your popcorn for this one.
|
EX-CRYPTID
This episode we look at the Devil Bird, a Sri Lankan horned bird demon that terrified locals and signifies death for all those who cross its path. Folklore surrounding this creature went back centuries, with its screech sounding like a blood-curdling scream from a woman. It was described as having horns protruding from its head, a long sharp beak and glowing red eyes. It wasn’t until 2001 that this was identified as The Spot Bellied Eagle Owl and those "horns" were in fact recognised as unusual feather displays. |
|
More Info
Most believe that pterosaurs went extinct around 65 million years ago, along with the dinosaurs. However, not everyone believes this to be true with witnesses still to this day describing a pterodactyl creature soaring over modern day USA. Are these creatures misidentified birds, hoaxes or true pterosaurs that managed to escape extinction?
Credit Axel Schmidt
|
WHAT IS IT
Pterosaurs were the largest creatures to ever take flight. Slow gliders, they are believed not to flap as often as modern day birds to stay in the air. There was a variation between species, some with massive head crests, feathers or sharp teeth, where others had none. Size was also varied, with wingspans reaching from 5m - 13m. |
|
FOLKLORE
According to science though, the last of the pterosaurs disappeared in the mass extinction that killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. However, there are reports that some rock art shows depictions of these winged beasts. One such example is from Utah and has been used as "proof" that pterosaurs roamed the earth at lease 6,000-10,000 years ago. It appears to depict a pterosaur with wings outstretched (right). However, with advancements in technology, the original art can be revealed with a photographic enhancement program known as DStretch and a technique called x-ray fluorescence (right). It is here we see this is in fact a villager, with surrounding animals, streams and people. There is also a theory that pterosaur encounters are what we can contribute the legend of the Dragon to. Throughout history, we see stories of great flying beasts depicted in various cultures, much literature, ancient cave paintings, historic artifacts and inside art. Accounts describing ‘living pterosaurs’ have come from around the world for many years now, including Madagascar, Namibia, New Zealand, Crete, Brazil, Argentina, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Texas. |
Credit Whit Richardson/Alamy
Credit Jean-Loic Le Quellec
|
SIGHTINGS
In America, there has been an estimated 1400+ eye witness accounts of Pterosaurs within the last 3 decades, according to self appointed “living pterosaur expert” Jonathan D. Whitcomb.
In America, there has been an estimated 1400+ eye witness accounts of Pterosaurs within the last 3 decades, according to self appointed “living pterosaur expert” Jonathan D. Whitcomb.
Credit Living Pterosaur
Credit Freakylinks
|
In the 1950’s, a photo was published in a “Believe it or not” type of book in America. The photo was accompanied by a story that the bird was shot down by soldiers of the American Civil War in 1864, near the city of Vixberg. This photo is known as the “Ptp photo” and is not to be confused with the known fake from the TV show FreakyLinks. Although the original Ptp photo has never been conclusively proved fake, it is known that other images have been doctored to show civil war soldiers around a deceased dinosaur. Because of this, this photo is believed to be a hoax.
The most notable sightings include: - May 1961, a man flying his private plane in New York State spotted a huge creature that he claimed looked like a looked like a pterodactyl. - In Jan 1976, two Texan teenagers (Jackie Davis at 14 & Tracey Lawson at 11) spotted a giant bird-like creature standing in front of them. It was 5ft tall, dark in colour, had a sharp six-inch-long beak, a bald head and a face that looked like a gorilla's. They immediately ran in to tell their parents but when they returned it had gone, leaving only large footprints behind. They were 3 toed prints measuring 8 inches across. |
|
This somewhat makes sense as although pterosaurs from fossil records have 5 digits on their back legs, the digits on the wings are usually 3. Additionally some species of pterosaur were believed to use these winged hands to support them as they walked on the floor.
- In 1976, during the early hours of the morning, Policeman Arturo Padilla of San Benito, Texas spotted a massive bird-like creature in his headlights. After a moment, it shot off into the sky. Only moments later, a fellow officer (Homer Galvan) who was not a far distance away also saw it as it flew above him. To Homer, it was a giant black silhouette, which he noted did not flap its wings once before it disappeared. A flurry of sightings soon follows in this year, including 3 Texan school teachers spotting something swooping their cars at 15-20ft across and a local radio show offering a reward for the creatures capture. - In September 1982, James Thompson (an ambulance driver) pulled over when he saw a creature with a wing span of around 5-6ft across glide into view. It was grey/black in colour, covered in rough skin but no feathers, had a lump on the back of hits head, no neck at all and barely moved its wings. When he got home, he researched animals that fit what he has seen, coming to the conclusion that it most looked like a pterosaur. |
Credit The Pterosaur Heresies
|
Credit Susan Wooten
|
- In 1989, Susan Wooten was driving in South Carolina when she saw a creature swoop towards her friends car in front of her. It was as big as the car with no feathers, kind of like a “humongous bat” as she puts it.
Experts who study these creatures in America explain that Susan’s “description of the creature, and the closeness of the encounter, repudiate the misidentification of a bird or bat”. After the event, Susan sketched the creature she saw. |
- In 1990, the U.S.S. Jouett (CG29) (guided missile cruiser) while out at sea encountered an animal that had a 30-40ft wingspan and looked like a pterodactyl. Around 50 - 100 men on board saw the giant creatures swoop over the chimneys and even the captain of the ship (who also spotted the beast) asked his men to refrain from using the word “pterodactyl” in their report to avoid seeming crazy.
|
PROPOSED EXPLANATION
Theories that could explain this cryptid include: - A large known bird species - Native species (e.g. Frigate birds) - Unknown species of bat - Hoaxes (e.g. remote control Pterodactyl toys) |
|
"You wouldn't believe in a bipedal ape but you believe in Pterodactyls??"
