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The mbielu-mbielu-mbielu is a cryptid reported from the Republic of the Congo's Likouala River, described as a river-dwelling animal with large "planks" growing out of its back. It has been theorised that it may be a living stegosaur dinosaur.[1][2]
Description[]
The actual form of the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu's body has never been described to western researchers:[3] its only known physical attributes are the large "planks" growing out of its back. It is almost always in the water, and usually only its back, which is covered in green algal growths, is seen. It is most active in the late afternoon.[2]
Sightings[]
Undated[]
A sighting of the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu allegedly occured near Epena, at a place called Ikekesse, on an unknown date. The animal was seen emerging from the water.[2]
Theories[]
Illustration of Stegosaurus by Zdeněk Burian.
Roy P. Mackal, although regarding the animal as an enigma, favoured the identification of the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu as a giant monitor lizard,[4][1] and Dale A. Drinnon theorised that it could be a species of giant crocodilian with a serrated back.[3]
On account of its plates, it has been suggested that the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu could be a living stegosaur.[2] A woman from Bouanila named Odette Gesonget selected an image of Stegosaurus from books provided by Mackal in 1980 as the animal which her parents had told her about. However, she never actually saw the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu herself..[2] As anecdotal evidence, Mackal also cites the existence of African cave paintings depicting elephant-like animals with stegosaur-like backs.[1]
Despite the physical similarities, the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu's aquatic behaviour presents a problem for any identification with a stegosaur or ankylosaur. Although they may have fed on plants near rivers and lagoons, there is no evidence that these animals were amphibious, and their weight argues against the possibility. Mackal also notes that the identification of the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu as a stegosaur is based solely on Gesonget's testimony, and on the animal's "planks".[1]
Similar cryptids[]
It has been suggested that the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu, whatever it is, may be the same animal as the nguma-monene,[4] and Dale Drinnon suggests that the muhuru is also the same animal, which may be reported up to the swamps of South Sudan.[3] Mackal also considered the possibility that, like with many other Congo dragons, reports of the mbielu-mbielu-mbielu could refer to the mokele-mbembe.[1]
Further cryptozoological reading[]
- Mackal, Roy P. (1987) A Living Dinosaur? In Search of Mokele-Mbembe
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mackal, Roy P. (1987) A Living Dinosaur? In Search of Mokele-Mbembe, Brill, ISBN 978-9004085435
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Eberhart, George M. (2002) Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, ABC-CLIO, Inc., ISBN 1576072835
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Drinnon, Dale A. Frontiers of Zoology: Muhuru, Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu and the Megacrocs of East Africa frontiersofzoology.blogspot.com [Accessed 2019]
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shuker, Karl P. N. ShukerNature: SHUKERNATURE'S TOP TEN LIVING DINOSAURS OF CRYPTOZOOLOGY karlshuker.blogspot.com [Accessed 2019]