Contemporary Dinosaurs

From TinWiki.org

The Coelacanth, a supposedly extinct fish surviving into modern day.

In modern Congo native legends, there exists creatures that seem to be Contemporary Dinosaurs and, judging by physical evidence, it may be likely that they do in fact exist. However, science tends to disagree that these creatures are dinosaurs and were able to survive to modern day. In response, many say that the Congo is still very unexplored, and that we know that there are some parts that are so isolated that it may be possible to be hidden and survive to today, such was the case with the Coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought to have died out millions of years ago rediscovered in Africa and South America by fishermen. Scientists sometimes also state that the only proof other than footprints, etc., is the word of the natives and few who claim to have seen it. Once again, believers respond with the fact that creatures like the wild boar, mountain gorilla, and okapi were discovered long after the same natives claim they existed.

Contents 1 Claimed Dinosaurs and Dinosaur relatives 1.1 Mokele-m'bembe 1.2 Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu 1.3 Emela-ntouka 1.4 Ngoubou 1.5 Muhuru 1.6 Murray 1.7 Rift Valley Monster 1.8 Madidi Monster 1.9 Nguma-Monene 1.10 Sucuriju Gigantica 1.11 Kongomato 1.12 Row

Claimed Dinosaurs and Dinosaur relatives

The Okapi, one of few Cryptids discovered after the fact that Congo natives have been speaking of it long before it's discovery.

The large majority of supposed contemporary dinosaurs are in the dense jungles of the Congo, mostly in the Congo Basin and surrounding area. All are still marked as local legends. Many of them also have a hatred of local creatures such as the hippopotomus and kill them on sight, but never eat them.

Mokele-m'bembe

Translates: One who cuts(sometimes translated as stops) the flow of river
Evidence: Native stories, loss of hippos in living area, tracks, photographs, researcher accounts
Suspected Species: Brontosaurus, Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, other Sauropods

The most famous of the dinosaurs, Mokèlé-mbèmbé(alternatively spelled Mokele M'bembe, Mokele 'mbembe, and versions replacing the space with a hyphen) is a major part of Pygmie oral history. They consider the creature an average animal, no different than what we consider lions and tigers and bears to be. They know the creature as a herbivore, but kills hippos and humans on sight (most likely because of territorial disputes). The creature seems mostly aquatic, and eats strictly malombo plants in the area. Its footprints closely resemble those of sauropod dinosaurs. Noteably they have three toes while elephants, rhinos, and hippos have five.

Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu

Translates: One with planks growing out of their back
Evidence: Native stories
Suspected Species: Stegosaurus

The Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu is a mysterious species even to the Pygmies. Fishermen there have claimed to see it half submerged in water with algea growing on its exposed back, which is said to have several planks extruding from the skin. No one has ever seen the bottom half and tail of the creature, but they claim it's completely peaceful and herbivorous.

Emela-ntouka

Translates: Killer of the elephants
Evidence: Elephant deaths, native stories
Suspected Species: Ceratopsian, extinct relative to rhinos

Claimed to have one large horn of ivory, reptilian skin, and half aquatic life, the Emela-ntouka is the size of an elephant with brown, green, or gray skin color. It is very ferocious towards elephants and will kill them on sight (similar to the relationship between Mokèlé-mbèmbé and hippos). They are considered lone hunters, but are never witnessed eating their kills.

Ngoubou

Evidence: Elephant deaths, native stories
Suspected Species: Triceratops, Ceratopsians

Natives account that the creature has a large shield-like head and tusks. They live in herds and battle elephants for territory.

Muhuru

Evidence: Native stories
Suspected Species: Some claim Stegosaurus, others claim closer to Ankylosaurus

In Kenya, the Muhuru is claimed to be a herbivorous species of animal with scales and a large clubbed tail. Some believe this club is mistaken as spikes, which could mean it is a relative to Stegosaurus if they are indeed spikes, or Ankylosaurus if it's truly a club.

Murray

Tanslates: None needed
Evidence: Native stories, animal killings, native sightings
Suspected Species: Tyrannosaurids

This creature is reported to live in Papa New Guinea and is semi-aquatic. It's carnivorous and will eat both man and animal (reportedly has eaten local wildlife and pets). Reports claim it has an alligator-like back.

Rift Valley Monster

Translates: None needed
Evidence: Native stories
Suspected Species: Dimetrodon

The reports in Kenya of this species say this is a large lizard with a sail covering its back. This is a characteristic of the dinosaur relative Dimetrodon.

Madidi Monster

Translation: None needed
Evidence: Native stories, researcher sightings
Suspected Species: Diplodocus

Quoted from The Rivers Ran East by Leonard Clark: "In 1907 Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Fawcett of the British Army was sent to mark the boundaries between Brazil and Peru. He was an officer in the Royal Engineers and was well known as a meticulous recorder of facts. In the Beni Swamps of Madre de Dios, Colonel P. H. Fawcett saw an animal he believed to be Diplodocus... The Diplodocus story is confirmed by many of the tribes east of the Ucayali"

Nguma-Monene

Evidence: Pilot sighting, photographs, native stories
Suspected Species: Reportedly the same creature as Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu, but natives say a large species of snake, possibly prehistoric

Natives claim the creature is a giant snake that reaches 130 feet in length with alligator-like ridges running down the length of the back. The creature is reportedly a constrictor and had a forked toungue like a snake. It's carnivorous and will eat humans and animals alike.

Sucuriju Gigantica

Translation: Giant Snake
Evidence: Many sightings, skins, tracks
Suspected Species: Possibly giant prehistoric relative to modern day anacondas

Lt. Percy Fawcett also was the first to see this creature as well. A gigantic snake around 120 feet in length, it's an often-sighted crytpid. Giant tracks and shedded skins have been found from this creature. It's been reported to eat humans and animals. Several have been killed by natives, but bodies are quickly disposed of.

Kongomato

Translation: Overwhelmer of boats
Evidence: Deaths, native accounts, sightings
Suspected Species: Pterosaurs

East African natives claim this creature eats dead animals and digs up graves for human flesh. It's sighted often by these natives, and ocassionally by people in nearby cities.

Row

Translates: None needed
Evidence: Supposed video, native sightings
Suspected Species:Sauropods

Natives claim the animal is a long-necked reptile with planks on the back and a single spike on its tail. Generally considered a hoax.