| 1856 French Pterodactyl | |
|---|---|
 Artists depiction. | |
| Background | |
| Type | Cryptid |
| Continent | Europe |
| Country | France |
| One-Time? | Yes |
| Theories | · Cryptid · Hoax |
1856 French Pterodactyl was an entombed pterosaur which was reportedly awoken when miners constructing a tunnel split its rock. The story is a humorous Tall Tale and definite hoax though it retains an indelible appeal to Fortean researchers,
Appearance[]
The original report describes the pterosaur;
“This creature, which belongs to the class of animals hitherto considered to be extinct, has a very long neck, and a mouth filled with sharp teeth. It stands on four long legs, which are united together by two membranes, doubtless intended to support the animal in the air, and are armed with four claws terminated by long and crooked talons. Its general form resembles that of a bat, differing only in its size, which is that of a large goose. Its membranous wings, when spread out, measure from tip to tip three meters, twenty two centimeters. Its color is livid black; its skin is naked, thick and oily.”[1]
Incident[]
According to an Illustrated London News report for 9 February 1856, a pterodactyl had supposedly emerged, weak but nonetheless alive, from out of a hollow boulder blasted apart during the then-recent excavation of a new railway tunnel at Culmont, in France. As soon as it took its first breath of air, however, it promptly expired.[2]
Possible Explanations[]
- "In reality, of course, there is no such species as Pterodactylus anas, and there was no such specimen either – but none of this should come as any surprise to the linguistically-minded, for whom all of the clues for deciphering the true nature of this tall tale are readily available. After all, 'anas' is Latin for 'duck', which in French (bearing in mind that the pterodactyl was supposedly found in France) is 'canard' – a word with a very different meaning in English. Namely, indicating an unfounded, deceiving story with no truth in it!"[3]