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Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Sunday, October 04, 2009

TANTALISING TATZELWURM

I have been kicking myself for the last twenty-four hours because an acquainance is presently in Switzerland on business and I forgot to ask him to do what I ask everyone from the CFZ to do whenever they visit the alpine countries: ask the people they meet about the tatzelwurm.

For those not in the know, the tatzelwurm is a smallish mystery reptile, possibly legless but most often reported with two stubby front legs like one of those peculiar salamanders called sirens.

The most recent sightings we have are from just before WW2, but there are unconfirmed rumours of sightings in the 1950s and 60s.

So dude if you are reading this and you get the chance, ask some of your associates if they have ever heard of it. And let us see whether we can actually get some more recent accounts of this tantalising animal. And if you are going to be going into an offie in one of the less salubrious areas of town (although from what Ms C. says you don't seem the sort of young man to be frequenting dodgy off-licences) have a look for one of the cheap wino brands of kirsch. My first wife and I had a Swiss friend who used to visit once a year and bring a bottle over, and although she thought it was nasty, I loved it. I have very low tastes.

Also, old chap. Hurry back soon because I think that she is pining somewhat, and a pining sub-editor is not good for my soul. Toodle-pip!

1 comment:

Dustin Munro said...

Tatzelwurm



What is/was the tatzelwurm(also spelled tatzelworm)?There are reports of a 2 legged creature that may be a giant version of the Mexican burrowing lizard(if it's a reptile) or a 2 legged amphibian.Other reports are of a 4 legged creature 1.Resembling a helodermid(the venomous Gila monster and Beaded lizard are helodermids)and being venomous.2.A type of skink.3.If it is an amphibian,a European version of the Chinese giant salamander.
To my understanding, most of these sightings are on dry land and the creatures are very fast in attacking and fleeing which basically rules out at least some creatures as being salamanders.Salamanders are not very fast on land.2 legged reptiles or amphibians probably couldn't leap either.What there seems to be sightings of in Europe is possibly a cryptid snake(possibly a known species of snake or legless lizard mistakenly thought to be something else) and 2 legged and 4 legged cryptid lizards. In Japan and possibly Korea are two different creatures-some having 2 legs and others having 4 legs along with a third creature(possibly a known species of snake or legless lizard mistakenly thought to be something else)with no legs.They probably live across Europe and Asia(possibly including the Mongolian deathworm).
Not all sightings are of fast moving creatures so some 2 legged creatures may be either reptile or amphibian.I will add two more possibilities to the 4 legged creatures1.The thought to be extinct Varanus Marathonensis-a European monitor that existed into the neolithic age or a giant Lacerta species between 2-3 feet long-the size of most sighted creatures.We need live creatures caught to prove their existance and what they are.