Ricky Rodson is an experienced cryptozoologist with several published books on the subjects of zoology, cryptozoology, and mythical beasts.
Why Make A List of Lesser Known Cryptids From Around The World?
A lot of people make list like this of some of the world's strangest creatures and cryptids. But the problem with these lists on most of them contain the same creatures over and over. On all of these lists, you can expect the likes of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, and creatures of similar popularity. And while we are not going to dispute the awesomeness of those creatures we simply believe there are other awesome creatures that deserve to be discovered. This list is comprised of some of the world's coolest but lesser-known Cryptids so sit back and prepare to be amazed.
Old Photo of a Thunderbird
A Thunderbird is a large birdlike animal that has been claimed to have been spotted all across North and Central America. Well known Native American myths describe in their stories gigantic eagles capable of carrying animals as large as humpback whales back to their nests for food. It has been said that these powerful birds of prey wings were so powerful that when flapped, thunder was created. Despite their enormous power, Thunderbirds have always been described as benevolent and peaceful natural spirits. In 1890 two cowboys from Arizona claimed to have shot and killed a Thunderbird. The creature was described as being an extremely large featherless bird with the head of a crocodile. Newspapers of the time described the beast as looking more like a dragon than a bird. We can only assume by looking at the pictures that these giant creatures were the inspiration for the Legendary Pokémon of Generation One Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.
Painting of Trunko
Trunko is the name of a strange fish-like creature originally cited off the coast of Margate, South Africa in 1924. When first spotted the large animal was fending off an attack from two killer whales with it's tail. Several days later the whale-like animal washed up onto a beach dead, presumably from wounds caused by the attack. The animals described as being nearly 50 feet long and as having thick white fur like a polar bear, a lobster like tail, and add an elongated trunk of an elephant. Trunko received his name from an article written by famous cryptozoologist Carl Shuker called "Whales Slain By A Hairy Monster". It has been rumored that trunk go has actually been killed and found in the Philippines in the year 2018.
Short Video about Trunko
Photo of the Skunk Ape
The Skunk Ape is a humanoid cryptid reported to be seen throughout the southeastern United States but most prominently in the Florida Everglades. Most notably known for its horrible odor the skunk eight has been described as having dirty black fur and glowing red eyes. The creature was first sighted in the 1960's following police reports in Dale County, Florida. In the year 2000 the Sarasota County Police Department received an anonymous letter with two photographs of what was believed to be an escaped orangutans stealing apples from their porch near the Myakka river. Because of the location the creature has been dubbed the"Myakka Skunk Ape.
Drawing of The Yowie
The Yowie is a legendary hominid claimed to live in the Australian outback with its roots sprouting from Aboriginal Myths. Most sightings to depict the Yowie as an extremely hairy monkey-like animal capable of standing upright. The beast is said to stand anywhere from 7 to 12 feet tall and to act extremely timidly. The earliest Yowie sighting recorded took place as far back as 1795 according to columnist Margaret Jones.
Drawing of The Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp
Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp
Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp is a humanoid cryptid known to live in the swamp lands and sewers of Lee County, South Carolina. These beast are said to stand nearly 7 feet tall and covered in dark green scaly lizard-ish skin. The creature is said to have incredible strength despite only having three fingers and three toes on each hand and foot. The first time a lizard man was sighted was by Christopher Davis, a 17-year-old boy, in the summer of 1988. Admittedly, the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp are one of the strangest and most unbelievable creatures to make our list but there originality makes them something to be discovered and hopefully they actually do exist.
Picture of a Mongolian Death Worm
Mongolian Death Worm
The Mongolian Death Worm is outrageously large intestine worm believed to exist in the Gobi desert. In 1922 the Mongolian Prime Minister Damdinbazar described this lesser-known cyrptid as being shaped like a sausage that's about 2 feet long. He claimed the beast had no head nor legs and was so poisonous that merely touching it would mean instant death. The book titled the new conquest of central Asia claims that the worm lives in the "most arid and sandy regions of Western Gobi". According to legend, the worms would eat camels and lay their eggs inside of the animals intestines. They spend most of their time underground except for June and July when they become extremely active.
Video of An Mongolian Death Worm
Picture of Orang Pendek
Orang Pendek is a peculiar cryptid reported to inhabit the remote forest of the island of Sumatra. While stories of the legendary creatures appearance vary, they all have several factors in common. Most stories describe the monkey-like animal as being a ground dwelling, bipedal ape covered in grey and brown fur. What makes this animal strange is it's one divergent big toe which works almost like a thumb. Because of parents many people believe the Orang Pendek to be nothing more than an undocumented primate or possibly a last surviving hominid.
Picture of Akkorokamui
The Akkorokamui is a enormous octopus-looking monster that supposedly wanders around the Funka Bay in Hokkaido, Japan. John Batchelor claimed the creature to be some sort of devil-fish or satanic octopus. The Akkorokamui is said to be able to grow as large as 400 feet long and has the ability to self-amputate and regenerate limbs. According to the claims this massive aquatic animal feast mainly on fish, crabs, and mollusks. While the Akkorokamui may look like the legendary Krakken cryptid, their legends couldn't be any more different.
Photo of GrootSlang
The Grootslang is an amazingly large snakes said to live deep inside a cave found in Richtersveld, South Africa. Locals claim that the GrootSlang is as old as the world itself, and that it was created by young gods in a terrible mistake. According to the myth, this mythological snakelike creature is said to live in a cave filled with diamonds and eat elephants unlucky enough to wander close. It is said that the Grootslang covets gems and diamonds and can be bribed with them.
Drawing of Momo
The Missouri Monster a.k.a. Momo is a Bigfoot like creature said to roam along the Mississippi River. Momo was first cited in 1971 near the border of Louisiana by Joan Mills and Mary Ryan as they hiked along a remote path. The creature was said to be covered in thick black hair resembling shag carpeting and to have been putting off a terrible smell. Over the next two weeks the creature would be sighted nearly 10 times by several different people. The creature's tracks were submitted to the director of the Oklahoma City Zoo for testing and deemed to belong to an unknown primate species.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2019 Ricky Rodson
Ricky Rodson (author) on July 02, 2019:
I thought the same thing Canuck. First you have to imagine a snake the size of an elephant then you have to add the elephant itself. While I wish it existed, it is hard to believe anyone ever actually believed it did exist.
TheCanuck on July 02, 2019:
The GrootSlang Might be the craziest and most awesome animal I have ever seen. It is truly ridiculous....
A Blue Green Galaxy on July 02, 2019:
Thanks. I also love dragons. I'll look on audible and the Library for the Blind.
Ricky Rodson (author) on July 02, 2019:
May I suggest the Audiobook called "Cryptozoology" if you are interested in the subject matter. There are all sorts of amazing creatures hidden on this planet. Thanks for the comment and I'll be sure to try and include some form on audio in my future post on the subject. There are also all sorts of widgets that will read the entire post out loud. Best Wishes!
A Blue Green Galaxy on July 02, 2019:
Awesome stuff! Good detail. Now I want to do a hub based on one of the creatures mentioned. I'm blind, but listened to the video about the worm.
Alexander James Guckenberger from Maryland, United States of America on July 02, 2019:
The thunderbird seems plausible.