CRYPTOZOID SPECIES
Cornish Dragons Exist?
-: GRUMPLING:-
(Subterranus Dragon/Dracotroglitus)
Also known as ‘Bumble Bee Dragons’, ’Bumpling’ or ’Ball Dragons’.
-:-
A Cryptozoic contemporary fantasy folklore creature.
Troglodite species indigenous to United Kingdom, notably sighted in former igneous & metamorphic deep hard rock mining areas. i.e.: Cornwall.
DESCRIPTION
No living specimen are known in captivity. Possibly warm blooded semiaquatic reptiles able to inhabit deep natural caverns & subterranean cave networks. Thought to colonize abandoned underground man made mine workings.
Currently believed to be an ancient branch of Amphisbaenia (Worm lizards). Amphisbaenia are characterized by underground habits & an evolutionary reduction or absence of limbs, - as is the case with ‘Bumpling/Grumpling’.
Unlike snake like appearance of most Amphisbaenian reptiles, ‘Bumpling/Grumpling’ are distinctly rotund in shape, the main body almost spherical, with no visible forelimbs. Exception being wings in the remarkable & seemingly un-aerodynamic flying sub-genus & fins in fully aquatic sub-genus species. Although devoid of teeth the head is similar to that of some other reptiles. The jaw indicative of filter feeding technique, similar to possibly that of ducks. Speculated to be omnivorous, deriving mineral & nutritional requirements from organic detritus & micro organisms trapped in subterranean pools & deep water sources below ground.
Apparently several sub-genus - ‘winged, spiny, finned, tailed & plain’. Although, multiple combination of such external features may occur. Such additional combination features possibly indicative of greater maturity. The purpose or function of the prominent head crest is unknown, but seemingly present in all adults. The crest possibly prehensile, sensory &/or for display. Thought to be viviparous, bearing live young at birth as no egg cases yet found to date. Despite these troglodyte creatures living in state of perpetual darkness eyes are fully developed & may utilize a unique form of thermal imaging by which to navigate & see underground.
Bumpling skin is leathery, with pattern coloration diverse & varied. These Cryptozoic reptiles generally believed to grow no greater than 13/14cm in diameter - approx. that of a large orange. Although no skeletal remains found to date, it is believed bones are light weight, flexible & with similar macro-structural bone construct to that of birds.
Lifespan - unknown. Bumpling are thought to be communal & social in habit. Not known to have any natural predators, but are shy & highly susceptible to disturbance by human activity.
Rare occasional reported discovery of shed skins of what appear to be from adult specimens. Bumpling known of only through such attributed skin sheds & glimpsed sightings by mine workers & potholers - alleged live sightings only occurring at depths greater than 500ft (150m+) from ground surface - which is presently an unknown environmental habitat significance.
Non-taxidermy specimens (& other examples)
‘Art of Kuriology’ — ‘Bumpling’ - Kuriology © 2019
