That there are many real animals unknown to science is hardly disputed. Those studying global biodiversity estimate, based on rates of new species discovery, that there are about 10 to 30 million living species (animals and plants), of which about 1.4 million have been described in the scientific literature. Furthermore, as ISC secretary J. Richard Greenwell observed, "Zoology was once essentially cryptozoology." He characterized the difference between traditional zoological practice and cryptozoology by saying that cryptozoologists target a specific animal, while zoologists tend to inventory a geographical area and catalog a new animal if it turns up: "Zoology throws a net," says Greenwell, "while cryptozoology throws a spear."<ref name=mccarthy/> | That there are many real animals unknown to science is hardly disputed. Those studying global biodiversity estimate, based on rates of new species discovery, that there are about 10 to 30 million living species (animals and plants), of which about 1.4 million have been described in the scientific literature. Furthermore, as ISC secretary J. Richard Greenwell observed, "Zoology was once essentially cryptozoology." He characterized the difference between traditional zoological practice and cryptozoology by saying that cryptozoologists target a specific animal, while zoologists tend to inventory a geographical area and catalog a new animal if it turns up: "Zoology throws a net," says Greenwell, "while cryptozoology throws a spear."<ref name=mccarthy/> |