WELCOME TO THE CFZ BLOG NETWORK: COME AND JOIN THE FUN

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...

Search This Blog

WATCH OUR WEEKLY WEBtv SHOW

SUPPORT OTT ON PATREON

SUPPORT OTT ON PATREON
Click on this logo to find out more about helping CFZtv and getting some smashing rewards...

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER



Unlike some of our competitors we are not going to try and blackmail you into donating by saying that we won't continue if you don't. That would just be vulgar, but our lives, and those of the animals which we look after, would be a damn sight easier if we receive more donations to our fighting fund. Donate via Paypal today...




Tuesday, January 12, 2010

MUIRHEAD`S MYSTERIES: EQUATORIAL WEST AFRICA`S IKANDA

Dear folks,

Whilst browsing through the chronicling America website again today I quickly came across a possible 'new' cryptid, but bear in mind I have only done a cursory Google search for it. In 1896 a zoologist in an equatorial region of West Africa came across what he described as a bear-ape or Ikanda. The story was published in the Marietta daily leader of August 17th 1896. The zoologist thought it was a new species of potto or ape-like creature. The description of its fur makes it appear to be a Golden Potto (Arctocebus aureus) but I know nothing about these animals so it could be something else altogether. The zoologist R. L. Garner already knew of two pottos or angwantibos, he thought it was neither but similar to them. Fortunately we have illustrations of parts of its body, namely the hands and feet.

I quote:

'THE IKANDA OR BEAR-APE Prof.Garner Tells of the Queer Little Beast Discovered In Africa. It Never “Loses Its Grip – Strange Story Told By The Natives of How It Is Used for Catching Leopards.

In the forests of Central Africa there live many strange creatures, some of them as yet unknown to science. One of the most singular of these belongs to the Simian family, but is very low down in the scale. I have a specimen which I kept in captivity for a number of months, during which time I gave considerable attention to its habits. So far as I am able to learn, it is an entirely new species of a small group known as slow lemurs. Up to this time there have only been two species of this genus known in Africa, but the specimen in my possession is not identical with either. I have never found a specimen of it in any museum, either in this country or abroad, and I have found no zoologist who has ever seen or known one. It is neither a potto nor an awantibo though it doubtless belongs to that group, being included in the genus of lemuroids called “ Arctocebus” ie bear apes.

The native name of this animal is “Ikanda” and it appears to be confined to a small scope of country along the equator in West Central Africa…It is uncertain how far it extends to the interior…In his general appearance the Ikanda is like a miniature bear. It is from this fact that the name “arctocebus” has been conferred upon him. Every movement is exactly like that of a bear, the ears nose and tail are also like those of a bear…The most singular physical features are the hands and feet, which are shown in the drawings. The hand is a perfect human hand in every respect, except the want of an index finger….
[the article then goes into a highly detailed account of the hands and feet, which I do not have time to include here - R]

'The body is covered with a dense growth of soft hair,almost like fur. It is a dark brown in color, but somewhat lighter on the under side of the body. The nose is quit bare and very black.

I have never seen one of these animals in the adult, but apparently they grow to be 14 or 15 inches in length
(1)… The article then goes on to describe the resting and eating habits of the Ikanda. But there is nothing about its ability to catch leopards!

Marietta Daily Leader August 17th 1896.

Richard

U2 New Year`s Day

All is quiet on New Year`s Day
A world in white is on its way
And I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes on New Year`s Day

No comments: