The Dude’s High 5s: Cryptozoology

I’m phoning it in today.  I’ve had a busy week, I’ve been lacking sleep, and I’ve been straining to think of a good topic.  So I’m lobbing one in there.  Today I’m going to do my favorite urban legend creatures.  Bear in mind, I don’t believe in most of these … or probably any (with one exception), but the stories behind them are fascinating.

5. Ogopogo

Nessie is a log.  Champ is a group of eels or beavers, or some such foolery.  Ogopogo on the other hand may be the real deal (probably not though).  Ogopogo is believed to be a Basilosaurus.  Basilosaurus were what you would get if you mixed a whale with a snake.  Roughly 60 feet long, they were the largest aquatic mammals of their time.

4. Beast of Gévaudan

The Beast of Gévaudan gets a nod from for two reasons.  Number one, it attacked the French, and two, Brotherhood of the Wolf was a great movie.  The Beast of Gévaudan was responsible for over 200 attacks between 1764 and 1767.  Popular theory exists today that it was just a pack of wolves.  However, 250 years ago, a pack of man eating wolves is just as scary as a giant, man eating beast, roaming the countryside.

3. Mongolian Death Worm

The Mongolian Death Worm gets a spot because it has the coolest name of any cryptid out there.  In fact, I am starting a metal band names Mongolian Death Worm.  Descriptions of the worms vary, but most agree that they are between 2 and 5 feet and a bright red, to a dull brown.  They are native to the Gobi Desert if they exist or not if they don’t.

2. Kraken

Back in the day, a Kraken was a real concern.  Hell, until about 100 years ago, they were even still a bit of a concern.  Remains of giant squids that had washed up on various shores only propagated these claims.  It wasn’t until the 1950’s that giant squids, or Architeuthis, were generally accepted to be real.  This may have been the final nail in the giant coffin of the Kraken.

1. Mountain Gorillas

Crypto-zoologists take a lot of crap.  They are not considered real scientists, and typically do not follow the rules of their trade.  However, every once in a while, they get one right.  This is my salute to them.  While the discovery of the mountain gorilla may not have been the work of a “traditional” cryptozoologist, there was the same skepticism applied to their existence.

Care to weigh in with your favorite crypto?