Encyclopaedia of Cryptozoology
Encyclopaedia of Cryptozoology
Encyclopaedia of Cryptozoology
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Father-of-all-the-turtles

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Father-of-all-the-turtles

's illustration of the cryptid chelonian.

Harry Trumbore's illustration of the cryptid chelonian.

System Heuvelmans system (1965), Coleman-Huyghe system (2003), Champagne system (2007), and Marshall system (2018)
Proposed scientific names
Other names Carapaced sea serpent, cryptid chelonian, giant chelonian
Sightings range Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea (Heuvelmans, 1965), or cosmopolitan (Champagne, 2007)
Proposed identification Sea turtle (Heuvelmans, 1965 & Coleman & Huyghe, 2003 & Marshall, 2018), indet. mammal or mammal-like reptile (Champagne, 2007)

The father-of-all-the-turtles (French: père de toutes les tortues) is a Heuvelmans type of sea serpent, described as a sea turtle larger than the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacia),[1] equivalent to the cryptid chelonian in the Coleman-Huyghe system,[2] the carapaced sea serpent in the Champagne system, and the giant chelonian in the Marshall system. An undescribed species, oversized members of known species, and the Cretaceous Archelon have all been proposed as identities.[3][4] Most significant sightings have occurred in the waters of the Gulf Stream, in the Caribbean Sea, Canada, and the United Kingdom.[5]

Although such giant sea turtles appear in folklore and ancient writings, the type was originally based on just four uncertain sightings,[1] which may refer to other sea serpent types or, in the cases of white turtles, upside-down humpback whales.[6] Heuvelmans, who always considered the type doubtful and never classified it, eventually abandoned it,[7] but later systems retain it, with Loren Coleman and Patrick Huyghe identifying it as a possible Archelon or Allopleuron,[2] and Bruce A. Champagne classifying it as a possible reptile-like mammal, or a transitionary form.[8]

Sea serpents classified as possible fathers-of-all-the-turtles[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Heuvelmans, Bernard (1968) In the Wake of the Sea-Serpents, Hart-Davis, ISBN 9780246643124
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Coleman, Loren & Huyghe, Patrick (2003) The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep, TarcherPerigree, ISBN 978-1585422524
  3. ↑ Eberhart, George M. (2002) Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, ABC-CLIO, Inc., ISBN 1576072835
  4. ↑ Shuker, Karl P. N. (2016) Still In Search Of Prehistoric Survivors: The Creatures That Time Forgot?, Coachwhip Publications, ISBN 978-1616463908
  5. ↑ Magin, Ulrich "In the Wake of Columbus' Sea Serpent," Pursuit, No. 78 (1987)
  6. ↑ Drinnon, Dale A. CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track: DALE DRINNON: Possible Identifications For Some of Bruce Champagne's Independent Sea-Serpent Classification Categories forteanzoology.blogspot.com (25 May 2010) [Accessed 16 September 2020]
  7. ↑ Woodley, Michael (2008) In the Wake of Bernard Heuvelmans: An Introduction to the History and Future of Sea Serpent Classification, CFZ Press, ISBN 978-1905723201
  8. ↑ "A Classification System for Large, Unidentified Marine Animals Based on the Examination of Reported Observations," Elementum Bestia: Being an Examination of Unknown Animals of the Air, Earth, Fire and Water (2007), Lulu Press, ASIN B001DSIB2W
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