Cryptids are animals that cryptozoologists believe may exist somewhere in the wild, but whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science. Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience, which primarily looks at anecdotal stories, and other claims rejected by the scientific community. While biologists regularly identify new species following established scientific methodology, cryptozoologists focus on entities mentioned in the folklore record and rumor. Entities that may be considered cryptids by cryptozoologists include Bigfoot, Yeti, the chupacabra, the Jersey Devil, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Mokele-mbembe.

Scholars have noted that the cryptozoology subculture rejected mainstream approaches from an early date, and that adherents often express hostility to mainstream science. Scholars have studied cryptozoologists and their influence (including its association with Young Earth creationism),[1][2] noted parallels in cryptozoology and other pseudosciences such as ghost hunting and ufology, and highlighted uncritical media propagation of cryptozoologist claims.

List

Aquatic or semi-aquatic

Name Other Names Description Purported Location Depiction
Cadborosaurus[3] Caddy Sea animal Pacific Coast of North America  
Champ[4] Champy Lake monster Lake Champlain, North America  
Cryptid Whales[5][6] Giglioli's Whale, Rhinoceros dolphin, High-finned sperm whale, Alula whale, Unidentified beaked whales Sea animal Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean  
Dobhar-chú[7] Water Hound, King Otter Extra-large otter-like carnivorous aquatic mammal Ireland  
Gloucester sea serpent[8] Large serpent Gloucester, Cape Ann
Iemisch[9] Iemisch Listai Mix of a jaguar and otter Patagonia
Igopogo[10] Kempenfelt Kelly Lake monster Lake Simcoe, Ontario (Canada)
Isshii[citation needed] Issie Lake monster Japan
Labynkyr Devil[11][12][13] Labynkyrsky Chert[citation needed] Lake monster Oymyakonsky Ulus, Sakha Republic, Russia
Loch Ness Monster[14] Nessie Lake monster Loch Ness, Scotland  
Loveland Frog[15] Loveland frogman, Loveland lizard Humanoid frog Loveland, Ohio  
Lusca[16] Giant Octopus[citation needed] Blue holes in the Bahamas
Mamlambo[citation needed] Lake monster South Africa
Manipogo[17] Winnipogo Lake monster Lake Manitoba, Canada
Megalodon[16] Otodus megalodon Giant Shark Oceans
Mokele-mbembe[18] Dinosaur (lake, river and/or swamp monster) Republic of the Congo  
Ogopogo[4] N'ha•a•itk, Naitaka Lake monster Lake Okanagan, Canada  
Sea serpents[19] Sea animals, dinosaurs All bodies of water  
Selma[20] Seljordsormen Lake monster Lake Seljord, Telemark, Norway
Steller's sea ape[21] Sea animal Pacific Ocean

Terrestrial

Name Other names Description Purported location Depiction
British big cats[22] Alien big cats (ABCs), phantom cats, mystery cats, English lions,
Beast of Bodmin, Beast of Exmoor
Carnivorous mammal Great Britain  
Capelobo[23] Humanoid anteater monster Brazil  
Chupacabra[24] Chupacabras (Spanish for goat-sucker) Puerto Rico (originally),
South and Central America,
Southern North America
 
Dover Demon[25] Dover, Massachusetts  
Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp[26] Lizard Man of Lee County Bipedal South Carolina, United States
Mapinguari[27] Mapinguary Giant Ground Sloth or primate Amazons  
Michigan Dogman[28] Humanoid dog Wexford County, Michigan
Minhocão[citation needed] Big Earthworm Caecilian South America
Mongolian death worm[29] Allghoi (or orghoi) khorkhoi Worm-like animal Gobi Desert (Asia)  
Nandi bear[30] Chemosit, Kerit, Koddoelo, Ngoelo, Ngoloko, Duba Large carnivore Eastern Africa  
Queensland Tiger[31] Yarri Large feline Queensland
Thylacine[32] Tasmanian tiger Marsupial Australia
Name Other names Description Purported location Depiction
Almas[4] Abnauayu, almasty, albasty, bekk-bok,
biabin-guli, golub-yavan, gul-biavan, auli-avan,
kaptar, kra-dhun, ksy-giik, ksy-gyik, ochokochi,
mirygdy, mulen, voita, wind-man, Zana
Non-human ape or hominid Asia/Caucasus
Amomongo[33] Orang Mawas, Impakta Ape or hominid Negros Occidental, Philippines
Barmanou[citation needed] Barmanu, Big Hairy One Ape or hominid Middle East/Asia
Bigfoot[34] Sasquatch Large and hairy ape-like creature United States and Canada  
Bukit Timah Monkey Man[35] BTM, BTMM Forest-dwelling hominid or other primate Singapore
Chatawa Monster[36][37] Large ape-like creature Mississippi, United States
Chuchunya[38] Large hominid Russia
Cryptoterrestrial Majeena', Wandjina Humanoid creature associated with UFO abductions and close encounters, interpreted as a terrestrial hidden race Brazil, Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, and Antarctica in Nazi UFO conspiracy lore  
Fouke Monster[39] Jonesville Monster, Southern Sasquatch, Boggy Creek Monster Hominid or other primate Arkansas, United States
Honey Island Swamp monster[40] Letiche, Tainted Keitre Hominid or other primate Louisiana, United States
Orang Pendek Small hominid Sumatra
Nittaewo[41] Nittevo Small hominids Sri Lanka
Skunk ape[42] Stink Ape, Myakka Ape, Myakka Skunk Ape Primate Florida, United States
Yeren[43][42] Yiren, Yeh Ren, Chinese Wildman Primate (possible hominin) China
Yeti[44] Abominable Snowman Large and hairy human-like entity, various other descriptions Himalayas (Asia)  
Yowie[41] Large and hairy human-like entity, various other descriptions Australia  

Flying

Name Other names Description Purported location Depiction
Jersey Devil[14] Leeds Devil Winged bipedal horse United States, mainly the South Jersey Pine Barrens, as well as other parts of New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania  
Mothman[45] Winged Man, Bird Man, UFO-Bird, Mason Bird Monster Winged bipedal Mason County, West Virginia, United States  
Rod[46] Skyfish, Air Rod, Solar Entity Small flying stick-like creatures Worldwide  
Ropen[47] Large bat-like creature or pterosaur New Guinea
Thunderbird[48][49] Giant bird North America  

See also

References

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Sources