Who Invented the Term Cryptozoology?
For years, naturally, I would answer the above question with one person’s name: Bernard Heuvelmans. Heuvelmans seemingly promoted the notion that he coined the word, and left it at that. Then, on 24 August 2001, Heuvelmans died, and I wrote an obituary, which found its way as far as the London Times, which propelled notice of his death to the world. Part of what I credited Heuvelmans as accomplishing, as the “Father of Cryptozoology,” was the invention of the word “cryptozoology” itself. Cryptozoology, which literally means the study of hidden animals, is one of the newest life sciences, and certainly one of the most exciting. During the last half-century, interest in sightings and traditions dealing with monsters has moved from a shadowy world of travelogues to academic respectability and beyond. In 1955, zoologist Heuvelmans wrote a groundbreaking book in his native French. This now classic opus is On the Track of Unknown Animals. The book was soon reprinted in English and several ot
