Cryptozoology learning with cryptids cryp to zo ol o gy noun Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience with the goal of identifying and describing beings from the folklore and the fossil record, which cryptozoologists refer to as cryptids. “Cryptids are the yet-to-be discov- ered animals or recovered suppos- edly extinct zoological species that are being sought by cryptozoolo- gists, zoologists, anthropologists, DQGRWKHUUHVHDUFKHUVWKURXJKÀHOG- work in the wild, reexaminations of specimens in zoological collec- tions, and searches of archival ma- terials.” - Loren Coleman (Cryptozoologist) 1967 Patterson Gimlin Bigfoot Footage 50 Cryptids NOTE: TEXT IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM COLEMAN’S BLOG / VISIT HIS SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. 1. Ahool 7. Bigfoot / Sasquatch China, and are also filed under the 18. Chupacabras Giant unknown bats are reported to Tall, human-like ape that is thought to name Black Tiger. Also called “Goatsuckers,” these reside in a region of western Java. be a direct descendant of gigantopithe- bizarre Caribbean and South Amer- cus found in the Pacific Northwest of 13. Bobo ican cryptids are five feet tall biped 2. Almas the United States. Sea monsters of the North Pacific creatures with short, grey, spiked hair Huge hairy Neanderthaloid hominids Ocean reported off Monterey Bay since reported to drain the blood through sighted in various parts of Euroasia. the 1940s. throat punctures of the livestock they kill. 3. Agogwe 14. Buffalo Lion The Agogwe are little, human-like, 8. Bili Ape East African maneless lions are said hairy, bipeds reported consistently Giant chimpanzees appear to live in re- to be man-eaters, and may reflect from the forests of Eastern Africa. mote east Africa, where much evidence some new genetic alignments, akin to points to their existence, including the King Cheetah discoveries among 4. Andean Wolf photos, footprints and ground nests. cheetahs. These unrecognized mountain dogs are seen in South America. 9. Birds-of-Paradise 15. Buru Six species from New Guinea and Fifteen foot long bluish black giant 19. Ebu Gogo 5. Arabhar surrounding islands, and a distinctive lizards were seen often in the swamps, Three feet tall, hairy little people with These unconfirmed flying snakes are Long-Tailed Black Bird-of-Paradise lakes and foothills of the Himalayas, up pot bellies and long arms sighted on located in the Arabian Sea region. from Goodenough Island. through the 1940s, although they may the island of Flores, Indonesia. be extinct now. 6. Bergman’s Bear 10. Black Panthers / Maned Cats 20. Giant Octopus Unknown species of giant bear once Sighting of large Black Panthers and 16. Caddy The Blue Holes of Bimini, offer many roamed Eastern Asia, and still may. seemingly “African Lions” with manes These unknown Sea Serpents living sightings of these unknown huge, in the Midwest USA. off the coast of British Columbia are a many-tentacled animals. popular figure in Canadian cryptozool- 11. Blue Mountain Panthers ogy. 21. Giant Sloth Cats reported live in the Blue Moun- Weighing up to 3 tons, these suppos- tains of the east coast of Australia in 17. Champ edly extinct animals have been report- the state of New South Wales. Giant prehistoric-looking creatures ed in South America. lurk in Lake Champlain, a 109 mile lake 12. Blue Tiger that borders New York, Vermont, and 22. Globsters Felines spotted in the Fujian Province, Ontario. Strange looking giant creatures (also called blobs) wash up on the beaches 28, MacFarlane’s Bear gan in the south central interior of 42. Ucu of the world, get the media and scien- The carcass is at the Smithsonian, be- British Columbia. The South American Bigfoot live mainly tists excited, and sometimes turn out lieved to be a possible hybrid between in the Andean foothills. to be “unknowns.” a grizzly and polar bear. 34. Orang-Pendak Small biped apes live in the jungles of 43. Waitoreke 23. Honey Island Swamp Monster 29. Mermaid Sumatra and Borneo. Otter-like beasts are seen in New Zea- “Swamp Thing” monsters are seen in Reports of mermaids around the Car- land, and as yet undiscovered. the Louisiana swamps. ribean. 35. Peruvian Mystery Jaguar Large cats with white fur covered in 44. Wampus Cat 24. Jersey Devil solid irregular spots are seen in the Creature in American folklore, de- This regionalized name hides these rainforests of Peru. scribed as a fearsome variation of a creatures that have been haunting the cougar that roams the forests of East New Jersey Pineland forest for over 30. Mokele-Mbembe 36. Skunk Ape Tennessee. 260 years. For over two hundred years there Chimpanzee-like primates have been have been reports of living Sauropods sighted throughout central and south 45. Wucharia 25. Kongamato (dinosaur) in the remote Congo area of Florida. Canine reported in Danakil Depression The natives of the Jiundu region of Africa. desert on the coast of Eritrea Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) 37. Steller’s Sea Cow have firsthand encounters with these 31. Mongolian Death Worm Huge, wrinkled manatee-like animal 46. Xing-Xing strange flying bat-like creatures. Locals in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia being seen by Russian fisherman. Small ape spotted in southern China. talk of these giant snakes, worms, or 26. Lau long thin lizards. 38. Tasmanian Tiger or Thylacine 47. Yeren Are certain African lakes the home Thought extinct, these wolf-like marsu- Chinese Wildmen encountered along to 40 feet long unknown catfishes or 32. Mothman pials are still sighted on a regular basis rural roads. lungfishes? A local name for giant owls (also called in Western Australia. Bighoot) which has been sighted for 48. Yeti 27. Loch Ness Monster over 100 years in West Virginia-Ohio 39. Tazelwurm Rock apes, are creatures reported as Nessie is the most famous Lake area, and elsewhere in North America. Classic small log-shaped reptilian from crossing the Himalayan plateaus and Monster in the world; they are said to the European Alps. living in the valley forests. inhabit this loch, an extremely deep Scottish lake. 40. Thunderbird 49. Yowie Large condor-like birds roam the skies Hairy hominoids are sighted through- of North America. out several remote areas of Australia. 41. Tzuchinoko 50. Zanzibar Leopard Snake sighted in the upper elevations A subspecies of the leopard that may of Korea and Japan. be extinct. It is native to Tanzania. 33. Ogopogo Water monster reported in Lake Okana- Top 10 Cryptids That Turned Out to be Real! Platypus Okapi Komodo Dragon Giant Squid Devil Bird Bondegezou Hogzilla Kangaroo Ziphius Hoan Kiem Turtle Sasquatch Height = 6-10 ft. tall aka Bigfoot Hair Color: Brown Sasquatch is an ape-human type creature that many believe lives mostly Black LQIRUHVWVLQWKH3DFLÀF1RUWKZHVWUHJLRQRI WKH1RUWK$PHULFDQFRQ- Red tinent. He is also often referred to as Bigfoot. Sasquatch is described Grey as large and hairy, resembling a half-man, half-ape creature in folklore and myths. Task List 1. Using Bigfoot’s foot measurements, create a life-size version of his foot- print using construction paper. Compare his foot size to your own. 2. What adaptations does Sasquatch have that help him survive in his nat- ural habitat? Use the Inherited Physical Trait fact sheet to help you. 3. Look up Bigfoot sightings online. Are there any in your area? 4. Write a fictional article about a Bigfoot sighting. Average Footprint: Length = 16 in. 5. Working with a partner, draw a Bigfoot Trap. Then write about how it Width = 7 in. works. Heel Width = 5 in. Ball Width = 7 in. 6. Take a survey: Ask at least 10 people if they believe in Sasquatch. Using your results, create a bar graph. Sasquatch Tall: 6-10 feet height Inherited Physical Traits aka Bigfoot +DELWDW7HPSHUDWH5DLQIRUHVW3DFLÀF1RUWKZHVW Sagittal Crest Ears hidden by hair Facial Characteristics: Short, wide neck Large brow ridge Eye whites / Color reported: brown Flat nose / Large nostrils Human-like teeth Long, muscular arms Large biceps Long, narrow waist 6 – 8.5 inch palm width Stubby fingers Speed: Can run up to 30mph Walks with legs bent Bipedal / Large, wide feet 16” Length 7” Width Wide body / Broad shoulders Covered with hair / Foul odor Behavior: Hides behind trees Height (6-10 feet) Sasquatch Sagittal Crest Large brow ridge Eye whites / Color reported: brown Flat nose / Large nostrils How do you think these adaptations help Sasquatch? Record your answers. Human-like teeth Ears hidden by hair Short, wide neck Wide body / Broad shoulders Long, muscular arms and Large biceps Long, narrow waist 6 – 8.5 inch palm width / Stubby fingers Bipedal / Large, wide feet (16” Length / 7” Width) Walks with legs bent / Speed: Can run up to 30mph Covered with hair / Foul odor Behavior: Hides behind trees Sasquatch Real or Not 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1XPEHURI SHRSOHVXUYH\HG 1 0 I Believe! I Don’t Believe! /RFK1HVV0RQVWHU Head aka Nessie Length = 2 ft. Width = 18 in. $QDTXDWLFEHLQJZKLFKUHSXWHGO\LQKDELWV/RFK1HVVLQWKH6FRWWLVK Highlands (a mountainous region encompassing northwest Scotland). Neck Length = 12.5 ft. Diameter = 1 ft. Task List 1. Working in a group, recreate a life-size version of the Loch Ness Monster’s neck and head. 2. The Loch Ness Monster lives in Loch Ness Lake, the largest body Color: of fresh water in Britain. Research Grey / Dark Tan at least 3 things the Loch Ness Tail Monster could eat. Do you think it Length = 6 ft. is a herbivore, omnivore or carni- vore? Use the under water web cam fact sheet to write down your research. 3. Write a fictional article about a Loch Ness Monster sighting. 4. Take a survey: Ask at least 10 Length = 40-50 ft. long people if they believe in the Loch Ness Monster. Create a graph to represent your findings.