Kera loys, atawa Ameranthropoides loysi (teu resmi), éta mahluk aneh sarupa monyét ditembak maot ku géologi Swiss François de Loys taun 1917 di wates antara Venezuela jeung Kolombia. Mahluk ieu nyarupaan hominid, kurang buntut kawas monyét, boga 32 huntu, sarta jangkungna antara 1.60 jeung 1.65 méter.
François de Loys was leading an oil exploration expedition near the Tarra and Maracaibo Rivers when two creatures approached their group. Loys fired at the creatures in an attempt to defend themselves. The male fled into the jungle, and the female was killed by a car. The creature was photographed, and de Loys saved the images.
When François de Loys returned to Switzerland, he told no one about the creature. However, in 1929, Swiss French anthropologist George Montadon discovered the photo while looking for information in Loys’ notes on indigenous tribes in South America and convinced Loys to publish it in an English newspaper.
Sababaraha makalah ngeunaan mahluk misterius ieu engké diterbitkeun di Perancis, sarta George Montadon ngajukeun ngaran ilmiah na ka Akademi Élmu Perancis.
Najan kitu, Montandon’s scientific description of the species as Ameranthropoides loysi (de Loys’ American human-like ape) was met with harsh criticisms. According to British naturalist Sir Arthur Keith, the photograph only depicted a species of spider monkey, ateles belzebuth, native to the explored region, with its tail intentionally cut off or hidden in the photograph.
Monyét lancah ilahar di Amérika Kidul, jangkungna ampir 110cm (3.5 suku) lamun nangtung. De Loys, di sisi séjén, geus ngukur kera na di 157cm (5 suku) - nyata leuwih badag batan sakabeh spésiés dipikawanoh.
Montandon was enthralled by the ape. He proposed the name Ameranthropoides loysi in three separate articles for scientific journals. However, mainstream researchers were sceptical from every angle in this case.
Sejarawan Pierre Centlivres jeung Isabelle Girod medalkeun artikel dina 1998 ngaku yén sakabéh carita patepungan aneh éta hoax perpetrated ku antropolog Montandon alatan pintonan rasialis na évolusi manusa.
Saha éta lalaki de Loys ieu, sareng naon buktina yén éta kera sanés ngan ukur monyét lancah? Naha anjeunna yakin yén poto éta dicandak di Amérika Kidul?
That is one of the mysteries. Aside from the question of what kind of primate de Loys’ ape is, if it is an ape, is it a South American ape? There are no native apes in the Americas, only monkeys. Africa is home to chimps, gorillas, and bonobos, while Asia is home to orangutans, gibbons, and siamangs. If de Loys indeed discovered a previously unknown ape in South America, it would fundamentally alter our understanding of ape evolution.
