Cave tracks

An interesting bit of info from Anomalist writer, Patrick Huyghe:

http://www.anomalist.com/reports/tracks.html

High Strangeness Report:

Mystery Tracks

by Patrick Huyghe

In January of this year a set of mysterious tracks was found in an
infrequently visited cave called Cueva del Arroyo in Central Mexico. On the
caving trip were Bonnie Crystal, Peter Strickland, Andy Grubbs, and Ernie
Garza. The unidentified animal tracks were found after the team's fourth
rope drop into the middle of a deep lake. Following a 30 meter swim, the
team reached an area of mud islands inside the 25 meter by 3 meter high
passage.

There they found the tracks, leading into and out of the water and crossing
several of the mud islands. The tracks showed no distinct claw marks, and no
tail or body marks. According to Crystal, the tracks looked like they were
made by a bipedal animal. The only known entrance to the cave is the a
sheer-sided rope drop at the end of a long deep box canyon. Crystal believes
they may have discovered evidence of an uncommon or previously unidentified
troglodite.

Upon viewing the photographs of the tracks, a bird scientist stated that the
tracks could not have been made by a bird and suggested a raccoon. Another
dismissed the possibility of a lizard because the tracks are rather narrow
and not splayed out like a lizard's. Others have suggested a crocodile
(which some think is hilarious; since the caves flood from mostly dry
arroyos, there are no crocs to wash in) and a rat (it would have to be a
monster). One observer thought it might be due, not to an animal, but to
some weird natural geological process. But most observers attribute the
tracks to a turtle.

Bruce Rogers, a USGS scientist who had visited the cave in the past, made
the following comments: the prints appear to be about 2 to 3 inches in
diameter and recessed into the mud about an inch or so. The animals is
amphibious, probably weighs about 10 to 18 pounds, is relatively small, and
has very short legs. Coupled with the straddle walk, Rogers concludes the
tracks were probably made by a troglophillic turtle.

But, Crystal asks, do turtles make bipedal-looking tracks? And don't turtles
generally drag their bottoms as they go? There are no drag marks here.

What do you think? Check out the photographs, but don't forget to come back.
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There's a photo here of the tracks.
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The World Time Forgot.
Mystery Animal Tracks in Central American jungle cave. Believed to be a
large bipedal lizard. Fellow cave- swimmer "Ernie" points to tracks which
lead into the water and onto sand bars on banks of the underground river.
Note well-worn path made by the animal(s), fresh tracks. Keep in mind that
these animals live in complete absolute darkness. The location of this is in
the 4th lake level below ground. It took many hours of underground swimming
and rappelling down ropes through waterfalls to reach this area of the cave.
After leaving this cave, we were stalked by a wildcat on the surface at 2AM
while trying to hike back to camp in the jungle.