Top 10 Legendary Cryptids

WatchMojo

These urban legends, folk tales, and myths continue to capture people's' imaginations the world over. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the most eerie, notorious, and legendary creatures known as cryptids.

Transcript

00:00I can't think of any animal, any, you know, flesh and blood animal on earth that can actually

00:05do the damage that this creature is doing.

00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down the most eerie,

00:12notorious, and legendary creatures known as cryptids.

00:21Number 10. Mochelium Bembe.

00:24It was said to be between the size of an elephant and a hippopotamus,

00:28with a long, flexible neck. They called it Mochelium Bembe.

00:33The Congo Basin's labyrinth of waterways and forests is the setting for the legend of

00:37Mochelium Bembe. It allegedly resembles a sauropod, a dinosaur thought extinct for millions of years.

00:44Locals and explorers alike have recounted stories of a colossal beast with a long neck

00:49and vegetarian diet. Like other monsters of popular culture, Mochelium Bembe's presence

00:55is claimed to be real by those who have ventured into its domain,

00:58offering tantalizing hints of a prehistoric world that somehow persists.

01:12The pursuit of evidence for Mochelium Bembe's existence challenges the boundaries of current

01:17scientific understanding, fueling expeditions and debates about undiscovered wonders hidden

01:22in Earth's remaining wild places. In the strictest scientific terms then,

01:27could there be a dinosaur living in the Likuala Swamp?

01:31Number 9. Yowie.

01:33The Yowie story took hold in December 1979 when two students from Brisbane had an encounter while

01:39camping in nearby bushland. In Australia, the Yowie emerges from the shadows of folklore as a

01:45formidable entity with a distinctly ape-like visage. Towering over humans, it boasts a burly physique,

01:52cloaked in deep reddish-brown fur, setting it apart from known wildlife. The Yowie's face,

01:58eerily human yet undeniably primal, fuels both fascination and trepidation among those

02:04reporting sightings. And I really thought I was going to lose my life that night. It screamed,

02:09it roared. It started off by stalking me like a cat. These span the diverse Australian landscape,

02:14from the dense rainforests of Queensland to the stark mountains of New South Wales,

02:19painting a picture of a cryptid with a broad yet elusive domain. Accounts of its demeanour

02:24range from benign curiosity to aggressive confrontations, adding layers to its

02:29mysterious persona. Despite numerous sightings, tangible evidence like footprints or clear

02:35photographs has yet to solidify its place in the natural world. Number 8. Thunderbird.

02:47Scientists thought no such bird could ever fly. The upper weight limit for a bird capable of

02:53steady, flapping flight is around 26 pounds. Native American mythology includes the Thunderbird,

03:00a creature of immense power and majesty, capable of summoning storms with the beat of its wings.

03:06This avian giant is described as having a wingspan that could shadow mountains. Sightings

03:11have been reported throughout the United States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest,

03:15where it is said to nest in the highest crags. The Thunderbird's description varies among tribes,

03:28with some depicting it as supernatural rather than a flesh-and-blood form. It provides both

03:33protection and wrath, featuring prominently in stories that highlight its ability to clash with

03:39other beings. The Thunderbird remains a symbol of strength and a guardian of the natural world,

03:44its story woven into the cultural tapestry of indigenous peoples.

03:53Number 7. Kraken.

03:58Mariners of old whispered of the Kraken, a behemoth lurking in the deep, its tentacles

04:03large enough to embrace a ship whole. Originating from Scandinavian tales,

04:08this legend permeated the fears of sailors navigating the treacherous waters of Norway

04:13and Greenland. Descriptions depict it as a colossal cephalopod, dwarfing even the largest

04:19of marine animals known to science. Its power was said to summon whirlpools and tempests,

04:32dragging vessels into the abyss. Historical accounts blending fact with maritime stories

04:38often attribute unexplained disappearances and shipwrecks to the Kraken's insatiable hunger.

04:44Though modern oceanography dismisses the likelihood of its existence, the Kraken

04:48continues to captivate the imagination, symbolizing the vast, unexplored mysteries of the ocean

04:54depths. Number 6. Jersey Devil.

05:02The Pine Barrens of New Jersey serve as the eerie backdrop for the Jersey Devil,

05:08born, according to tradition, as the 13th child of Mother Leeds in the 18th century.

05:13The devil was cursed to roam the vast, desolate forests. Its description is a tapestry of terror,

05:20a bipedal entity with hooves, bat-like wings, and a head resembling a horse or goat,

05:26complete with horns. Its piercing scream is said to chill the blood of those who hear it

05:38in the night. Since the 18th century, residents and travelers have reported encounters describing

05:43a situation that defies natural explanation. Skeptics dismiss these as misidentifications

05:49of native wildlife, yet the idea persists, enriched by each generation.

06:10Number 5. Mothman.

06:20Point Pleasant, West Virginia, became the epicenter of an enduring belief

06:29following sightings of the Mothman in the 1960s. Described as a humanoid figure with immense,

06:35moth-like wings and glowing red eyes, this cryptid quickly ascended from local curiosity

06:41to national phenomenon. Witnesses recount an imposing presence capable of flight and

06:46emitting a sense of foreboding. The Mothman's legend is intertwined with the tragic collapse

06:58of the Silver Bridge in 1967, after which sightings dramatically decreased, leading

07:03some to speculate about its role as an omen. While skeptics dismiss the reports as

07:08misidentifications of known wildlife or elaborate hoaxes, the Mothman has etched itself into the

07:14fabric of Point Pleasant through monuments, a dedicated museum, and an annual festival.

07:29Number 4. Chupacabra.

07:36Emerging first in Puerto Rico during the 1990s, the Chupacabra, or goat sucker,

07:42quickly became notorious for its alleged predation on livestock, leaving behind animals

07:47drained of blood with precise circular incisions. Characterizations vary widely, with some

07:53describing it as a reptile-like being with leathery or scaly, greenish-gray skin and sharp spines or

08:00quills running down its back, while others liken it to a strange, wild dog with a pronounced spinal

08:07ridge, unusual eyes, and a lack of fur. The Chupacabra's reputation has spread throughout

08:20the Americas, where similar incidents have been reported, sparking a mix of fear, skepticism,

08:26and fascination. Despite numerous investigations, the evidence for the Chupacabra remains

08:32circumstantial, often attributed to wild animals suffering from disease.

08:43Number 3. Yeti.

08:50Veiled in the mystery of the Himalayas, the Yeti, or abominable snowman, stands as a figure of

08:56intrigue and speculation. It's reputed to inhabit the remote, snow-clad regions of Nepal and Tibet,

09:03and is often depicted as a giant beast covered in white or gray fur, bridging the gap between myth

09:09and the possibility of unknown species. Accompanying the Tibetan and Chinese text

09:15is this illustration, perhaps the oldest surviving picture of the Himalayan snowman.

09:21Sherpas and mountaineers have woven stories of footprints left in the snow,

09:25suggesting a being with remarkable strength and agility. Western fascination with the Yeti peaks

09:30during the 20th century, propelling numerous expeditions aimed at uncovering evidence.

09:35While scientific consensus leans towards explanations involving

09:39bears or primates, the Yeti's cultural prominence endures.

09:52Number 2. Loch Ness Monster.

09:54At the very heart of the myth, the so-called surgeon's photo.

10:00The surgeon's photograph is the icon. It is what most people see as Nessie. It is their Nessie.

10:06In the serene waters of Loch Ness, Scotland, resides the enigmatic Loch Ness Monster,

10:11affectionately known as Nessie. This aquatic apparition is steeped in mystery,

10:15with reports dating back to the 6th century. Nessie is commonly described as possessing a

10:20long neck and one or more humps protruding from the water,

10:24evoking comparisons to prehistoric dinosaurs or aquatic reptiles.

10:37Interests surged in the 20th century, when a surge of sightings and photographs captured

10:42the public's imagination, sparking debates and scientific inquiries into its existence.

10:47While skeptics attribute the sightings to misidentifications of mundane objects or animals,

10:52true believers hold on to the possibility of an undiscovered species.

10:57The allure of Nessie has made Loch Ness a site of pilgrimage for the curious.

11:01The tape was so convincing, it immediately rekindled the controversy between those

11:06who believe in a monster and the skeptics who don't.

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11:301. Bigfoot

11:39North America's forests are reputed to be the domain of Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch,

11:44a cryptid that embodies the wild essence of the continent's vast wilderness.

11:48Standing at an imposing height, with a body shrouded in heavy fur, Bigfoot is depicted

11:54as part human, part beast, navigating the terrain with ease. Eyewitness accounts describe

11:59a being of remarkable strength and stealth, often leaving behind only footprints or fleeting

12:04glimpses as evidence of its existence. The lore surrounding Bigfoot spans indigenous

12:15tales to modern-day encounters, sparking a cultural and scientific quest to unravel the

12:20mystery. Despite the plethora of reported sightings and occasional video footage, concrete

12:26proof remains elusive, fuelling a debate that intersects science and the human desire to

12:31believe in the unknown. What other mythical creatures belong on this list? Let us know

12:50in the comments. Check out these other clips from WatchMojo, and be sure to subscribe and

12:55ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.

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