| Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid. The term "sasquatch" is an anglicized derivative of the word "sésquac" which means "wild man" in a Salish Native American language.[2] Scientists discount the existence of bigfoot and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoax,[3] rather than a living animal, in part because of the large numbers thought necessary to maintain a breeding population.[4][5] A few scientists, such as Jane Goodall[6] and Jeffrey Meldrum, have expressed interest and belief in the creature, with Meldrum expressing the opinion that evidence collected of alleged Bigfoot encounters warrants further evaluation and testing.[7] Bigfoot remains one of the more famous examples of a cryptid within cryptozoology, and an enduring legend. Bigfoot is described in reports as a large hairy ape-like creature, ranging between 6--10 feet (2--3 m) tall, weighing in excess of 500 pounds (230 kg), and covered in dark brown or dark reddish hair.[4][8] Alleged witnesses have described large eyes, a pronounced brow ridge, and a large, low-set forehead; the top of the head has been described as rounded and crested, similar to the sagittal crest of the male gorilla. Bigfoot is commonly reported to have a strong, unpleasant smell by those who claim to have encountered it.[9] The ... |
