Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Thurs, March 18, 7: 00 pm
Welsh Hall, West Vancouver Memorial Library | 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
Organized by the West Vancouver Museum
Sasquatch, Ogopogo, Hiaschuckaluck and the black salamander have been the subject of fascination for more than a century. Presented by the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, Hidden Monsters -The Unidentified Creatures of BC promises to be a fascinating talk on the history, habitats and lives of B.C.’s hidden animals. Find out how these creatures continue to survive today and what we can do to preserve them for posterity.

I am giving a talk on science, conservation and cryptozoology in BC.

May be this is a non-Delica related event. However, most of us here are outdoor type people and enjoy camping and driving down some back roads. I will like to point out that there could be yet to be classified species living in our "backyard".

Hope you can take time to join us.

cheers,
seb

Excuse my ignorance, but would you enlighten me to what a hiaschukaluck may be. I was also under the impression that a black salamander was a common creature.

Hi Mephisto!

The name "Hiaschuckaluck" is a coast Salish word for the lake serpent(s) which live in Harrison Lake. It appears to be similar to Ogopogo. Sightings are rare, but there is one well documented sighting in Towboat Strait between Long Island and 20 Mile Bay. I suspect that most likely that people saw seals in the lake. I have video footage of seals swimming in Harrison Lake and still shots of seals all the way up to Little Harrison Lake by Port Douglas.


cheers,
seb

Will you come to the Island and give a talk about Cadborosaurus? Or will that be included in the West Van presentation?

This presentation is organized by the West Vancouver Museum and that's why it is held in W Van. I organized a BCSCC meeting on the Island two years ago. I think it will be great to go to the Island to give a presentation on Caddy. Dr. Paul LeBlond, a UBC oceanography professor is an expert on Caddy and he lives on Galiano. May be I can get him to talk. I will talk to the BCSCC president John Kirk about this idea. After all, there will be another Cameron Lake expedition this year, may be I can work on a combined presentation and expedition. Thanks for your support!

cheers,
seb

Second question: what's the cryptozoological importance of the black salamander? Rarity? Seems to be a valid and observable species, just not very common and 'near threatened' (I think that was the phrase from the one site).

Cryptozoology deals with any unknown creature that is not classified by science. Not all subjects are as outlandish as Sasquatch or Ogopogo. The "black salamanders" of Pitt Lake (and three other Fraser Valley lakes) are interesting because they show similarity with the Asiatic genus Cryptobranchidae but much larger. The largest Chinese giant salamanders, Andrias davidianus, are about 5 feet long. Here we have reports of black salamanders in Pitt Lake up to 10 feet long. Here is a video of the Chinese giant salamander.





cheers,
seb

Thanx Seb. That's a bloody big salamander!

Despite their size, are they still considered to be indicator or marker species? You know, for the relative 'health' of an area? Just wondering if size gives them a resistance advantage over their smaller cousins, making them less susceptible to changes in their environment.

Sure thing, mararmeisto! All amphibians are now consider as indicator species because of their relatively low tolerance to pollutions. But I think that you are right there about the large size able to give them higher resistance. But the important part is that genus Cryptobranchidae originated in North America. Only one North American species, hellbenders, survives now. If these black salamanders can be proven, they may imply that the Asiatic species migrated from here. One can further speculate that the Beringia land bridge between Asia and North America during the Pleistocene must be warm enough (at least summer) to support amphibian populations.