The term dates from 1959 or before—Heuvelmans attributes the coinage of the term *cryptozoology* to Sanderson.[4]

Sanderson was an early follower of Charles Fort. Later he became known for writings on topics such as **cryptozoology**, **a word Sanderson coined in the early 1940s**, with special attention to the search for lake monsters, sea serpents, Mokèlé-mbèmbé, giant penguins, Yeti, and Sasquatch.

Speaking of two articles on Sea Serpents that Ivan T. Sanderson wrote in 1947 and 1948 which served as catalysts, Heuvelmans then penned this incredible sentence (first American edition, 1968, p. 508): "When he [Sanderson] was still a student he invented the word ‘cryptozoology’, or the science of hidden animals, which I was to coin later, quite unaware that he had already done so." … So, who invented the term “cryptozoology”? Apparently, it was Sanderson first, and then Heuvelmans, much later.

In 1995 Bernard Heuvelmans, a Belgian-French scientist, explorer, and writer, invented the term “cryptozoology”. He along with Scottish-American biologist, Ivan T. Sanderson, are considered the founding figures in cryptozoology. … Sanderson (who I knew) claimed he had invented the term in the 1930s. Heuvelmans did not argue with him and ceded that Sanderson had come up with the term.

Heuvelmans is often called the “father of cryptozoology” for his pioneering work and his 1955 book On the Track of Unknown Animals, which helped define the field. However, he stated in his own autobiography before he passed away that his colleague and fellow scientist Ivan T Sanderson was actually the one who coined the term "Cryptozoology" first.[1]

The term **"cryptozoology" first emerged from Sanderson's fertile mind in the late 1940s**, a neologism that would come to define an entire field of study. Born in 1911 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sanderson would grow to become a pivotal force in the study of hidden animals, a field **he himself christened "cryptozoology."**

The coining of the word cryptozoology is often attributed to Belgian-French zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans, though Heuvelmans attributes coinage of the term to the late Scottish explorer and adventurer Ivan T. Sanderson. Heuvelmans' 1955 book *On the Track of Unknown Animals* traces the scholarly origins of the discipline to Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans and his 1892 study, *The Great Sea Serpent*. … 8 AD 1955 ~ Bernard Heuvelmans Invents "Cryptozoology".

Ivan Terence Sanderson (January 30, 1911 – February 19, 1973) was a British biologist and writer born in Edinburgh, Scotland, who became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Along with Belgian-French biologist Bernard Heuvelmans, **Sanderson was a founding figure of cryptozoology**, a pseudoscience and subculture. Sanderson authored material on paranormal subjects and wrote fiction under the pen name Terence Roberts.

A Facebook group post discussing cryptozoology describes Ivan T. Sanderson as "a frequent guest on 1950s TV talk shows" and states that he "also coined the term 'cryptozoology' in the early 1940s." The wording directly supports the claim that Sanderson coined the word and dates it specifically to the early 1940s, but this appears as an assertion in a social media discussion rather than in a scholarly or primary source.

Ivan T. Sanderson was a Scottish biologist and cryptozoologist who's often credited as the **co-founder of cryptozoology.** He is known for his work on hidden animals and Fortean subjects, and for popularizing interest in cryptids.

This entry defines cryptozoology but does not attribute the term’s coinage to Ivan T. Sanderson. Standard English dictionaries generally treat "cryptozoology" as a modern compound from "crypto-" and "zoology" and give mid-20th century first-use dates, not specific individual coiners.

The Ivan Sanderson Papers hold an amazing array of archival material, covering topics from **natural history to radio and television programming to cryptozoology.** The collection documents Sanderson’s work as a zoologist and popular writer on unusual animals and phenomena.

When **zoologist Ivan T. Sanderson examined the mysterious three-toed footprints** along Florida's Gulf Coast in 1948, his scientific training and love of sensational stories collided. Sanderson, later known as a leading figure in **cryptozoology**, helped popularize this emerging pseudoscientific field through his writings and investigations.

Cryptozoologist and zoologist **Ivan T. Sanderson was one of the first people to bring live animals onto television talk shows.** He is often described by enthusiasts as a founder or early pioneer of **cryptozoology**, helping to define the popular image of the field.

The founder of **cryptozoology, Ivan Sanderson, collected research on cryptids for many years.** His research was lost until recently... Experts are working through his files, which cover decades of investigations into allegedly unknown animals.

The term itself was coined in the 1950s by Belgian zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans, who is often referred to as the father of cryptozoology. … However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that cryptozoology began to take shape as a distinct field of inquiry. The term itself was coined in the 1950s by Belgian zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans.

Cryptozoology was invented in the mid-20th century by zoologists Bernard Heuvelmans and Ivan T. Sanderson, who wanted to formalize the study of animals whose existence had not yet been proven. … Cryptozoology emerged in the mid-20th century, primarily through the efforts of zoologists Bernard Heuvelmans and Ivan Sanderson, who sought to establish a formal approach to the investigation of animals that remain elusive or unverified.

Sanderson’s article on sea serpents appeared in the 8 March 1947 issue of "Saturday Evening Post." Early the next year, he had another article in the magazine, this time on the possibility that dinosaurs were not extinct, but living deep in the jungles of Africa. These popular articles on extraordinary animals and possibilities show Sanderson’s emerging role as a **Fortean and proto-cryptozoologist** in the late 1940s.

Cryptozoology literally means the study of hidden animals or lifeforms. A not-yet-officially discovered animal is called a Cryptid. Cryptid is from the Greek word “Crypto” meaning hidden or Secret. The science is hidden zoology, the study of undiscovered entities that may exist in some corporeal (biological) form.

Cryptozoology comes from crypto-, meaning "hidden or secret," and zoology, "the study of animals." … Origin of cryptozoology: crypto- + zoology.

Word History. Etymology. crypto- + zoology. First Known Use. 1968, in the meaning defined above.