The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology: Werewolves, Dragons, Skyfish, Lizard Men, and Other Fascinating Creatures Real and Mysterious

By Deena West Budd

A study of dozens of hidden animals—from the chupacabra to Mongolian death worms—drawing on eyewitness accounts from around the world.
 
This informative book includes information, interviews, and stories about forty different cryptids seen around the world by credible eyewitnesses like policemen, rangers, and doctors. Readers will learn where and how to find flying humanoids, hairy humanoids, giants of all kinds including rabbits, bats, and spiders, goblins, vampires, werewolves, demons, aliens, and ghosts.
 
Cryptozoology—a term coined in the 1950s by a French zoologist named Bernard Heuvelmans—is the study of hidden or unknown animals not recognized in standard zoology. From traditional cryptids like Big Foot, the Abominable Snowman, and Nessie, to mythical cryptids like unicorns, vampires, dragons, and werewolves, to lesser-known cryptids like bunyips (waterhorses), Encantado (Dolphin Men of Brazil), thunderbirds, mothmen, and chupacabra, these creatures are very much alive, says expert Deena West Budd, if beyond the realm of normal perception.
 
The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology includes a brief history of the field and surveys all the creatures for which any credible amount of research exists—as well as giving tips on how to spot these creatures and cautionary advice on how to interact with them.
 
Includes two dozen line drawings rendered from eyewitness descriptions

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Mar 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781609250836

Book preview

First published in 2010 by

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

500 Third Street, Suite 230

San Francisco, CA 94107

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright © 2010 by Deena West Budd.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Budd, Deena West.

The Weiser field guide to cryptozoology : werewolves, dragons, skyfish, lizard men, and other fascinating creatures real and mysterious / Deena West Budd.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-57863-450-7 (alk. paper)

1. Cryptozoology. I. Title. II. Title: Field guide to cryptozoology.

QL88.3.B83 2010

001.944—dc22

2009049352

Front Cover: moon, night monster, sea creature, snow monster, dragon gargoyle © istockphoto.com. Wolf eye, creature in tunnel, and gargoyle face © dreamstime.com.

Illustrations © BB Faye and James Budd. Illustrations on pages 12, 18, 34, 43, 51, 63, 67, 76, 90, 93, 120, 126, 135, 138, 140, 143, and 150 © BB Faye, and James Budd. Images on pages 17, 20, 37, 44, 49, 60, 65, 74, 75, 76, 86, 97, 100, 102, 105, 108, 123, 124, 130, 134, 141, 145, 146, 159 x 3 and 166 © dreamstime.com. Images on pages 6, 9, 13, 19, 22, 28, 30, 46, 53, 54, 57, 59, 71, 81, 83, 89, 95, 111, 116, 136, 154, and 161 © Dover Publications.

Images on pages 25, 29, 33, 119, and 164 © istockphoto.com.

Production Editor: Michele Kimble

Proofreader: Nancy Reinhardt

Typeset in Jenson and Priori

Printed in Canada

TCP

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1992 (R1997).

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Dedicated to my own faithful little four-legged golden-haired cryptid, Goku Buu Budd

Contents

Introduction

Rods (Skyfish)

Mongolian Death Worms

Ahool and Other Giant Bats

Loogaroo Vampires of the West Indies

Bunyips (Water Horses)

Kentucky Goblins

Tommyknockers of California

Enfield Horror (Giant Kangaroos)

Frogmen of Loveland

Gray Man of Ben MacDhui

Lusca and Other Giant Octopuses

Flying Man of Falls City, Nebraska, and Other Flying Humanoids

The Awful

Beast of Busco (Giant Turtle)

Giant Rabbits of England

Thunderbirds (Piasa)

Jake and Other Alligator Men

Beast of Bray Road and Other Contemporary Werewolves

Goatman

Giant Catfish

Moas (Giant Flightless Birds)

Shadow People

Black Dogs

Kappa (Japanese River Imps)

Encantados (Dolphin-Men of Brazil)

Clurichauns

Giant Spiders

Boston Lemur

Dragons

Spring Heeled Jack

Beast of Bladenboro, North Carolina

Ohio Grassman

Lizard Man of Scape Ore, South Carolina

Lobo (Wolf) Girl of Texas

Giant Rats of New York City

Dover Demon

Mothman of West Virginia

New Jersey Devil

Chupacabra

A Tale of MoMo (Missouri Monster)

Further Reading

Introduction

While writing this book, I was astounded to discover that many people had never even heard the word cryptozoology. I was also amazed to find that many dictionaries and online word origin sources did not include the term. I did find a definition at AskOxford.com: "noun the search for animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster. Most cryptozoologists say it is the study of hidden animals. The term is credited to the master of cryptozoology," Bernard Heuvelmans and dates back to 1959.

Cryptids, the name for the creatures studied in this field, are not only beings whose existence has not yet been proven; the name is also given to creatures sighted in areas to which they are not indigenous. Cryptozoology can include the study of beings that have been considered extinct for thousands of years.

There is debate among researchers and cryptozoologists regarding what creatures can be called cryptids. Many of the experts investigate only hairy humanoids, but some fringe cryptozoologists accept mystical creatures such as unicorns, fairies, and dragons. Traditional beasts such as vampires, werewolves, and zombies are often included in the spectrum as well. Ghostly entities, such as black dogs and shadow people, are sometimes found under the cryptid heading. We can't leave out the often-sighted aliens, which are believed to be the source of a great number of cryptid sightings.

It was not an easy task deciding what cryptids to include in this book. I started out researching the more well-known creatures such as Big Foot, the Loch Ness monster, and the hairless beast mentioned often in the news lately, the Chupacabra.

Oh my goodness, the information available on Big Foot is amazing! Hundreds of thousands of volumes and online sources to read and research. In addition to Big Foot sightings recorded in most states, countries, and continents, there are reports of similar creatures using many different names. Some cryptozoologists classify other cryptids, such as the Ohio Grassman, the Beast of Bray Road, Goatman, and the New Jersey Devil, as Big Foot-type creatures.

The gray areas in the field of cryptozoology are immense at this time, as it is a relatively new area of study. There are thousands of hidden creatures that have been sighted all over our awesome world. Were you aware of the giant kangaroo sightings in the Midwest in the 1970s? Have you heard of the giant turtle living in Indiana? Did you know about the little boy in a small town in Illinois who, while playing hide-and-seek in his backyard, was picked up and carried 40 feet by a giant bird?

In addition to these documented creatures, there are many incredible cryptids that we don't normally hear about. I decided I might serve my readers best by delving into these lesser-known creatures, like the shocking Mongolian Death Worm, the Awful, the goblins of Kentucky, the Loogaroos vampires, the Ahool, and many more incredible and marvelous beasts. I've also included some of the cryptids that have been in the news over the years, such as the Boston Lemur, the Chupacabra, Mothman, and the giant rats of New York City.

One of the most fascinating types of creature sighted in contemporary times is the rod or skyfish. I enjoyed researching this cryptid immensely, and am grateful to expert Jose Escamilla for his time and help on the subject. Thousands of articles, books, and videos have been written and produced by many talented, brave, and persistent researchers and cryptozoologists. Because of their often dangerous treks into the unknown, their travels to the locations of reported sightings, and their diligence in recording the information, I was able to write this field guide to help the novice cryptid hunter.

Look upon this book as an introduction to forty different incredible beasts. I have tried to provide the information you need to know: where the creatures come from, where to find them, what traits and characteristics to look for, and how to prepare yourself for the search. At the end of the book is a Further Reading section, in which I list many of the sources on each cryptid. I have included references I used in my own research and also the sources of my sources!

I've looked at not only many cryptids from the United States, but also fascinating creatures from all over the world. Some can be found in your yard or even inside your own home! Many of these creatures are benign and would be delightful to encounter. There are others, though, that I've delineated more as a warning than as an enticement. I implore you to use great caution while searching for these hidden animals. Keep in mind the cautions I include for the more dangerous cryptids. The most important bit of advice I can give to you is to remember not to show your fear; most evil creatures gain their strength from our weaknesses. Appearing brave will give you courage. Good luck!

 Rods (Skyfish) 

It's difficult to imagine that there might be creatures flitting about in the air around us, ordinarily undetectable by the naked eye. Yet many people believe that organisms, often called skyfish or rods, flying snakes, or serpents, and occasionally referred to as solar entities or atmospheric beasts, are swimming or undulating through the air around us right now.

These amazing cryptids have been captured on film numerous times in various places around the world, even under water. They were first discovered in this medium in 1994 by producer/director Jose Escamilla while shooting a documentary in Midway, New Mexico.

In November 1996, at a deep pit called Solano de las Golondrinas, in the Cave of Swallows in Mexico, some rods were inadvertently videotaped by Mark Lichtle, who was recording some BASE jumpers. It was not until after several trips to the area, when a segment of the Lichtle video aired on television, that Escamilla noted the rods on the video. A television crew from San Diego TV station KFMB accompanied Escamilla to the Cave of Swallows in 1999 and filmed what might be a colony of skyfish.

Escamilla believes the anomalies captured are living creatures that dart through the air at speeds so fast that they are barely discernible by the untrained human eye. Escamilla (actually, his wife) coined the term rod because of the creatures' cylindrical shape.

Some observers contend that the rods are three-dimensional and seem to operate in an intelligent or instinctual manner, controlling their own flight paths. Often appearing playful, chasing each other around and even interacting with birds. Rods sometimes come out of nowhere for a fraction of a second, only to disappear.

Rods range in size from a few inches to as long as 100 feet. Some have appendages that resemble fins or wings along the length of the cylinder. Many times, multiple sets of wings are observed, or a thin membrane of wings is wrapped around the length of the body. It is reported that the torso undulates as it travels. Escamilla identifies the three types of rods as centipede rods, which have several pairs of fins or wings; white rods, which appear to have no fins and are more ribbon-like in shape; and the colorful spears, which can be yellow, white, or brown. These last ones are thinner and faster than the other types of rods and do not have fins.

Theories about the origins of rods vary considerably; their sources are thought to range from aliens and interdimensional beings to atmospheric beasts. Some think they are some kind of secret military weapon. There is one theory that they might be distant relatives of the anomalocarids or strange shrimp, early marine animals believed to be extinct.

Although Jose Escamilla is credited with being the discoverer of these flying creatures, other reports precede Escamilla's; there are 1,000-year-old carvings in Argentina that resemble rods or skyfish.

Although Escamilla believes that with patience and practice we can learn to see rods with the naked eye, most are detected on video. Some scientists speculate that our ancestors might have had better eyesight than we do because of our modern habits of reading and watching television. Our ancestors' eyes would have been better trained for self-protection and to see far distances.

Accounts from China dating back to a.d. 747 describe serpents flying in the air. In September 1891, in the town of Crawfordsville, Indiana, a flying serpent was seen by several witnesses. It was swimming about 100 feet in the air. It appeared to be 20 to 30 feet in length and 8 feet wide, with at least one pair of wings or fins attached.

Trevor James Constable, author and researcher, photographed what he called critters or sky creatures in the 1950s using infrared film. Skyfish have been filmed by photographers for the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, and the Learning Channel. During the filming of the movie Braveheart in Scotland, a rod was seen in the blue sky passing