This article tries to predict scientifically how many sea monsters may be around. It's worth a read.
Extract: Speculation as to the nature of large unknown aquatic animals has generally occurred in the absence of quantitative data and relied almost solely on eyewitness testimonial. This need not be the case. I (Paxton 1998, abstract here) estimated the number of unknown large open water marine animals awaiting discovery by science based on an assumption that the scientific description rate for unknown large aquatic animals from 1830 could be extrapolated into the future. If this is true then the cumulative species description rate can be modelled as a rectangular hyperbola (Figure Two) and an estimate of the number of large unknown open water marine animals could be made.
...read the rest here :http://freespace.virgin.net/charles.paxton/Prediction.html
A great article on scientific method and cryptozoology:
Extract: The cryptozoological method
For some of our opponents, cryptozoology, just as astrology, ufology, graphology, parapsychology and tutti quanti; is not a science, but only a kind of wild goose hunt, or to say all in one word, a pseudo-science (Radner and Radner 1982). Curiously enough, there is no satisfying definition of what a science is (Bauer 1987). It is thus more simple to define what a pseudo-science is (and therefore, a contrario, what a true science is not): the "theory" of a pseudo-science is subjective, with concepts only accessible to "initiates"; its formalism is poor, involving few or no mathematics and logical reasoning (deduction, induction, etc.); it claims hypothesis impossible to be checked, or even proved to be wrong; it does not use the data from other disciplines; its doctrine is always the same, sometimes for centuries (whereas science is always changing, enriching itself, and sometimes questioning completely what was hitherto considered as sure); last but not least, its conception of the world is in contradiction with the law generally admitted of physics, if not with common sense (Alcock 1981).What about cryptozoology from this point of view ? It appears that it has nothing in common with pseudo-sciences (Raynal 1989):
Read the rest here: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/cryptozoo/welcome.htm
EDITOR'S NOTE: Both Michel and Charles are CFZ members, and it is a pleasure to spotlighht their work in any way that we can..
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Charles Paxton and I have gotten into some firece and horrible arguments over his article. I had made several statements which he took exception to, in particular drawing attention to the fact that both Heuvelmans and Sanderson reported the species of vertebrates were increasing all the time as new species were being discovered and that making estimates on how many species remained to be discovered (or at such a rate they could be predicted to continue to be discovered) is not a new thing but goes back to the origin of Cryptozoology. I also stated strong reservations over the ttempt owing to the fact that there is no good agreement on how many species there actually are living now, and estimates vary by orders of magnitude. Hence an estimation that three new species of seals could be expected to be discovered skis up to thirty species, going on the differences between splitters' and lumpers' estimated numbers of living species in total. It can be that much of a difference.
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