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Question #1: How could any species of pterosaur have survived
extinction millions of years ago?
Answer 1-A: All it takes is a few eggs, protected in one or two or more
nests, in one or two or more places on this planet. That prevents extinction.
Answer 1-B: Why believe that all their species must have become extinct? It
requires independent or out-of-the-box thinking for Westerners to examine
that extinction idea objectively, for we have been indoctrinated since early
childhood in the idea of universal extinction of all dinosaurs and pterosaurs.
Answer 1-C: Peter Wellnhofer, generally recognized in the scientific
community as the world’s leading expert on pterosaurs, admits the “paucity
of the fossil record” regarding pterosaurs. Paleontologists believe there were
many species of pterosaurs for which we do not have fossil evidence. But
few paleontologists, if any, have acknowledged what that implies regarding
extinction: The few species for which we have fossils can give no evidence
for any extinctions of the many species that left no fossils; we therefore
must admit that some species of pterosaurs may have survived.
Question #2: Why do many paleontologists believe they’re all extinct?
Answer 2-A: Pterosaur extinction is an old assumption, two centuries old.
Without a live or recently-deceased body to examine, it can be risky for any
paleontologist to try to validate an eyewitness sighting, for it flies in the face
of generations of tradition. But some species appear to have survived.
Answer 2-B: Until recently, little research had been done on reports of
sightings of apparent living pterosaurs. Even now, many paleontologists
may know little or nothing about that research for it is in cryptozoology, a
very different field from paleontology.
Answer 2-C: Until a few years ago, few if any peer-reviewed scientific
journals had published anything on eyewitness sightings of apparent living
pterosaurs. The subject of modern extant pterosaurs appears paranormal, so
it has been ignored in most scientific journals.
Question #3: How does Jonathan Whitcomb respond to the statement
by the cryptozoologist Loren Coleman? “‘According to Whitcomb, a
substantial number are not from hoaxes, insanity, or misidentifications;
they are most likely living pterosaurs,’ says their press release. Wherein
lies the insanity here?”
Answer 3-A: Coleman seems to have taken a popular axiom of standard
paleontology, universal pterosaur extinction, as if it were a proven scientific
fact. Perhaps he assumes that those who disagree with such a popular idea
may have mental health problems, but he is probably just playing with
words. In none of his writings have I seen any indication that he has looked
deeply into the concept of weaknesses in the axiom of universal pterosaur
extinction; he simply assumes that the more popular idea must be valid.
Answer 3-B: Coleman seems to have missed a critical point: Eyewitnesses
come from various backgrounds, various countries, and various belief
systems, but their sighting reports contain important similarities in many
instances. Coleman has simply not looked deeply and carefully into the most
important reports, most likely. He seems to have assumed that the American
investigators themselves have a severe bias that causes their conclusions to
be invalid. He seems to have overlooked the possibility that his own bias
may be just as much of a problem in drawing conclusions about extinctions.
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The opinions expressed are those of Jonathan David Whitcomb.
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Paleontology vs Cryptozoology
Some nocturnal pterosaurs may
sleep in caves during daylight
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for automatic use by the media)
For the past eight years, Jonathan
Whitcomb has probably spent more
hours interviewing eyewitnsses of
apparent living pterosaurs than any
other cryptozoologist, or researcher,
or reporter, or scientist on this planet.
Only a limited number of species of
pterosaurs are represented by fossils
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Six Answers to Questions One, Two, and Three
Eyewitnesses continue to tell
cryptozoologists about sightings
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One of the ponds at the San
Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
in Orange County, California
(Near here, a huge long-tailed flying
creature flew over a road in daylight)
Jonathan Whitcomb on Umboi
Island in Papua New Guinea
(This image may be used by the media)
New Nonfiction Books
Cryptozoology Explorers