Necessary monsters: claimed ‘crypto-creatures’ regarded as genii locii.

Anomalous phenomena, actual or otherwise, can be perceived as regional or even national symbols. This preliminary paper takes a look at the various ways whereby such phenomena manage to become expressions of a communal identity, such as by erecting monuments, building museums, or even issuing stamps, and how they come into existence, survive, and remain viable as a local expression. Regarded in this way, these disputed phenomena are virtually modern day versions ofgenii locii– protective spirits of places or regions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]