Mystery Timeline｜1868–1945
From the age of The Legends of Tono to the days when Nessie and the coelacanth made headlines around the world: mysteries from the Meiji era to the end of World War II.
A member of the bear family known for its black-and-white coat. It became known to Western science only in 1869 and was long considered a "phantom animal." It is one of the world's three great rare animals; we explain its discovery and what we know today.
A deep-sea shark that retains a primitive form. Long and slender like an eel, it has been suggested as the true identity of sea serpents. It was described as a new species in 1884 from specimens from Sagami Bay, Japan.
A relative of the giraffe with zebra-like stripes. Rumored as a "phantom animal" of the Congo rainforest, it was discovered in 1901. It is one of the world's three great rare animals.
A small hippopotamus of the forests of West Africa. Its skull was known in the 19th century, but its living form was a mystery and it was considered a "phantom animal" until one was captured in the early 20th century. It is one of the world's three great rare animals, with the okapi and giant panda.
The world's largest lizard, living on islands in Indonesia. It was told of in rumors as a "land crocodile," confirmed by Europeans in 1910 and described as a new species in 1912.
An ape very similar to the chimpanzee. Long not distinguished from chimpanzees, it was recognized as a different animal from a museum skull only in 1929. We explain the story of "the last ape to be discovered."
An ancient fish thought to have gone extinct about 66 million years ago. A living one was found off South Africa in 1938, astonishing the world; it is the classic "living fossil." We explain how it was discovered.
