Animalia Paradoxa facts for kids

Animalia Paradoxa was a special group of animals listed by a famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus in his early books, like Systema Naturae. Linnaeus thought these animals were very strange and didn't fit into his usual way of classifying living things. Today, we might call these kinds of mysterious creatures cryptids.

Linnaeus included them to explain why people believed in fantastic creatures from old stories or explorer tales. He wanted to show that there was a natural explanation for these "monsters." The "Paradoxa" group was removed from his system after 1748.

Mysterious Creatures Linnaeus Studied

Linnaeus listed several strange creatures in the first edition of his book in 1735. He tried to find scientific explanations for them.

• Hydra: In 1735, Linnaeus saw what people claimed was a Hydra in Hamburg. He discovered it was actually made from parts of weasels and snake skins!
• Rana-Piscis: This was a South American frog. It was reported that its tadpoles were much bigger than the adult frogs. People incorrectly thought it changed from a frog to a fish. Linnaeus later named it Rana paradoxa.
• Monoceros: This mythical creature, often described as a unicorn, was actually the narwhal. The narwhal is a whale with a long, spiraled tusk.
• Pelecanus: Linnaeus thought stories about pelicans might have been exaggerated by explorers.
• Satyrus: Linnaeus described this as a hairy, bearded, man-like creature with a tail. He believed it was likely a type of monkey.
• Borometz: Also called the Scythian Lamb, this was a legendary plant that supposedly grew lambs. Linnaeus saw a fake one from China.
• Phoenix: This is a famous mythical bird that rises from ashes.
• Bernicla: Also known as the Scottish Goose, people once believed these geese grew on trees!
• Draco: Linnaeus described this as a snake-like body with two feet and bat-like wings. He thought it was likely a ray fish or lizard shaped to look like a monster.
• Automa Mortis: Linnaeus identified the "death-watch" sound in walls. It was made by a beetle, Pediculus pulsatorius, that drills into wood.

Creatures Added in 1740

Four more creatures were added in the second edition of Systema Naturae in 1740:

• Manticora: A mythical beast with a lion's body, a human head, and a scorpion's tail.
• Antilope: A real animal, but perhaps its early descriptions were confusing.
• Lamia: A mythical creature from ancient Greek stories, often described as a child-eating monster.
• Siren: Mythical creatures, often depicted as mermaids, known for luring sailors with their songs.

Images for kids

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  Table of the Animal Kingdom ("Regnum Animale") from the 1st edition of Systema Naturæ (1735)