Illustrated Bestiary of West Virginia's Cryptids, Folklore, and Paranormal Entities, by u/egertronpuck, 1 year ago, Public domain.
What are these creatures?
In cryptozoology, many committed investigators and even skeptics refer to these creatures as "cryptids."
Much of the information gathered on these cryptids and former cryptids can be found the popular blog Cryptid Wiki. Similarly to websites like Wikipedia, Cryptid Wiki can be edited by anyone and is known as a "constantly growing encyclopedia of cryptozoological knowledge.”
According to Cryptid Wiki, there are seven categories of cryptids: former cryptids, humanoids, felines, plantae, dragons/dragonoids, aliens/atmospheric beasts, and supernatural beings. The specific qualifications of each category are as followed:
*Note: Former cryptids may often be found in the Catalogue of Life, an online database that refers to itself as "world's known species of animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms."
In cryptozoology, many committed investigators and even skeptics refer to these creatures as "cryptids."
Much of the information gathered on these cryptids and former cryptids can be found the popular blog Cryptid Wiki. Similarly to websites like Wikipedia, Cryptid Wiki can be edited by anyone and is known as a "constantly growing encyclopedia of cryptozoological knowledge.”
According to Cryptid Wiki, there are seven categories of cryptids: former cryptids, humanoids, felines, plantae, dragons/dragonoids, aliens/atmospheric beasts, and supernatural beings. The specific qualifications of each category are as followed:
*Note: Former cryptids may often be found in the Catalogue of Life, an online database that refers to itself as "world's known species of animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms."
Humanoid |
Former Cryptid |
Plantae |
Dragon/ Dragonoid |
Feline |
Alien/ Atmospheric Beast |
Supernatural Being |
two eyes |
formerly known as a cryptid |
may be 100% plant |
reptilian creature |
similar in physical characteristics to real felines |
living being not originally from Earth |
origins in supernatural beliefs and/or folk mythology |
the ability to walk upright |
discovered and studied by modern scientists |
may be partly plant |
origins in supernatural beliefs and/or folk mythology |
origins in supernatural beliefs and/or folk mythology |
has the ability to speak |
visits our universe from some parallel universe |
opposable thumbs |
may be found in the Catalogue of Life |
plants that are carnivorous |
includes pseudodragon |
contain magical abilities |
confirms through its dialogue that it is extraterrestrial |
ability to interact with humans |
not quite human/human mixed with another animal-anthropomorphic |
verified an existing/real species |
contain magical abilities |
flying abilities |
- |
generally thought of as an alien |
contains magical abilities |
ability to build structures |
- |
protected by another cryptid/species |
- |
- |
has similar appearance/ characteristics to other known alien cryptids |
behaves on behalf of human-like morals |
can communicate with other humanoids |
- |
- |
- |
- |
visits Earth in spaceships and/or flying discs |
- |
Cryptid Profiles
Former Cryptids
Okapi “African Unicorn” (by Europeans) “Atti, O’api” (known locally)
Okapi “African Unicorn” (by Europeans) “Atti, O’api” (known locally)
- 1901: Sir Harry Johnston, British Governor of Uganda, obtained skull & striped skin of the creature
- Only living relative to the giraffe
- Similar characteristics to the giraffe: body structure, long blue tongue
- Media: Madly Madagascar (2013), Félicité (2017)
- Youtube: Okapi | Curious Creatures
Okapi, Unknown author, n.d., ©2020 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Platypus
- Unique due to having characteristics of a reptile, mammal, and bird
- First encountered by Europeans in 1798
- First specimen given to British scientists tried to “unstick” the creature’s bill since they thought it was sewn together by Chinese taxonomists
- Media: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), The Rescuers Down Under (1990), Phineas and Ferb (2007-2015), Mister Rodgers’ Neighborhood (1968-2001)
- Youtube: Platypus Parts | National Geographic
© Hans and Judy Besage—Mary Evans Picture Library Ltd/age fotostock
Humanoid
Bigfoot: most well-known and most sighted cryptid
Bigfoot: most well-known and most sighted cryptid
- A heavy, bipedal humanoid ape, 8-10 ft tall
- Dense fur, ranging from red, white, brown
- Abnormally large feet
- First sighting: believed to be 1 million years and have been recorded across the world, specifically in remote lush forests in mountainous regions of the world
- TV show designated to Bigfoot (Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet): Watch Now
- Media: Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Abominable (2006), Exists (2014), Willow Creek (2013)
- Has many designated researchers and organizations dedicated to discovering Bigfoot (example: Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization)
Bigfoot study highlights habitat modelling flaws, Unknown author, Public domain.
Plantae
Fern Flower: known as magic flower in Slavic and Baltic Mythologies
Fern Flower: known as magic flower in Slavic and Baltic Mythologies
- Myth: flower blooms at the end of Summer Solstice and brings fortune to the person who finds it, although it is said to be closely guarded by evil spirits
- Variations in Fortune: wealth, luck, the ability to understand animals
- Media: Tsvetok paporotnika (The Fern Flower) (2015)
Fern edited.jpg, Unknown author, Public domain.
Dragon/Dragonoid
Loch Ness Monster
Loch Ness Monster
- an animal with sleek, rubbery black skin, ~20 feet long
- Records of first sighting goes back to 565 AD, origins in Scotland
- Media: Scooby Doo and the Loch Ness Monster (2004), Beyond Loch Ness (Insight Films 2008), The Water Horse (2007), and The Ballad of Nessie (2011)
- ABC News Loch Ness Monster Sighting Reported: American Loch Ness Monster Video Going Viral
Loch Ness "Monster" sighted for the first time, igniting the modern legend, Unknown author, Public domain.
Alien/Atmospheric Beast
Indrid Cold: aka the “Smiling Man”/”Grinning Man”
Indrid Cold: aka the “Smiling Man”/”Grinning Man”
- First sighting reported in the US in 1975
- Multiple sightings report varying appearances while large stature and a creepy grin remains constant
- Presence often reported with simultaneous UFO sightings
- Human-like in appearance, possible link to the Men in Black
- According to Woodren Derenberger, this creature comes from a planet called Lanulos in the Genemedes galaxy
- Media: “Supernatural Creatures with Terrifying Grins”, “The Mysterious Saga of Indrid Grin”, “Indrid Cold and the Invaders (Part 1 & Part 2)” (The Mysterious Universe 2018)
- Youtube: Who is The Grinning Man?
Grinning Man 2 by TheIckyMan under © 2011 - 2020 TheIckyMan
Feline
Silver Cat
Silver Cat
- origins in North America
- Large feline creature, weighing about 300 lb with tasseled ears and horizontal slits in the eyes
- 11’ long tail with a bony, club-like tip which is said to be spiked on one side and smooth on the other
- Stays in trees while hunting for prey, knocks out prey with the smooth side of the prey while they puncture prey and pull them up to the branch with the spiked side of their tail
A depiction of the Sliver Cat by Richard Svensson, n.d., Public domain.
Supernatural Being
Jinn: spirital creatures in Islam and Arabic cultures
Jinn: spirital creatures in Islam and Arabic cultures
- Known as “an intelligent spirit of lower rank than the angels, able to appear in human and animal forms and to possess humans
- In the Qur’an: made up of smokeless and “scorching fire,” still physical in nature, able to interact physically with people and objects
- In Islamic theology: creatures of free will to behave how they choose, made from smokeless fire by Allah
- Categories of Jinn: those who have wings and can fly, those who resemble snakes and dogs, those who travel about ceaselessly
- Examples of Jinn: ghouls, marid, nasnas, ifrit, vetala
- Many Muslims believe Jinn account for “magic” perceived by humans
- Historical relevance: during the Rwandan genocide, it is rumored that the Tutsi and Hutus avoided searching local Rwandan Muslim neighborhoods in fear that they were protected by magic and Jinn
- Media: Aladdin (1992, 2019), The Devil’s Advocate (1997), The Knight and the Princess (2019)
The black king of the djinns, Al-Malik al-Aswad, from the late 14th century Book of Wonders,Unknown author, late 14th century, Public domain.
Link to Resources Used: Cryptid Profiles Resources