User:Mimarx/sandbox

hole in the planet

Drop Bear stuff

Citation of 'fictitious'

Booch, G. The Resting Place of Innovation

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?tp=&arnumber=4786945&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fstamp%2Fstamp.jsp%3Ftp%3D%26arnumber%3D4786945

10.1109/MS.2009.53

Journal subject area: software development information Article subject area: software-intensive systems Authors Grady Booch background: software engineer Authors nationality: American References to Drop Bears: 1 Reference: "Before I continue, I must note that brutal pragmatism outweighs beauty most every time. If I'm fending off a vicious Australian drop bear (a large, vicious, carnivorous, but fictional Australian marsupial), I'll use whatever I have at hand, even if it's a priceless sample of moon rock"

Butler, Susan. The Dinkum Dictionary, p. 98 Text Publishing, 2010.

The Drop Bear entry is cited as a contribution from: 'Australian World Map' www.abc.net.au/worldmap (dead link) Searching www.abc.net.au for 'worldmap' and 'world map' found no reference to the citation. The citation (ie at page 98), has 'I described the drop bear to an American friend...' so is own research, sole source of unknown origin. While the Macquarie Dictionary is a respectable publication, The Dinkum Dictionary seems to be more an entertaining compilation of light weight references. Including using Clive James's book 'Unreliable memoirs', says enough.

Mills, Daniel. Daily Mail Australia, 5 September 2014. "From tripping on a cats to being trampled by horses (and even eaten by drop bears) - check out some of the weird ways Australians die"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2744626/From-tripping-cats-trampled-horses-eaten-drop-bears-check-weird-ways-Australians-die.html 'Sydney Wildlife expert David Whitehill said while many of the ways people have died on the list are true, there is also a number of long-held myths such as dying by drop attacks that tourists still believe happens. "A lot of it is tongue and cheek," he said. 'A computer generated image of what a drop bear might look like if it existed' 'Even drop bears got a mention in the NCIS statistics for "killing or injuring a few tourists." But surprisingly no Aussies have ever encountered one. Mr Whitehill did say though that there is an element of truth to some of the stories that to get told about Australia's animal folklore and that people should be wary of certain situations.'

Habermann, Vince. NewsMail, 9 July 2011, "Koala to turn into the Drop Bear".

http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/koala-has-to-turn-into-the-drop-bear-rugby-union/900786/ 'Tonight at Suncorp Stadium the cute, cuddly koala has to become as vicious and feared as its fictitious relation, the Drop Bear. Supposedly a large, carnivorous marsupial that strikes fear into the heart of outsiders, the Drop Bear is capable of launching surprise attacks on its victims. I’m not suggesting the QRU embrace the Drop Bear as its new “animal” logo, and given the Reds’ current popularity in the community, any change is totally unwarranted.'

Lee, Sally. Daily Mail Australia, 5 September 2014, "The mummy bear who thought she could fly: Koala overestimates her reach as she attempts HUGE leap with joey on her back".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2744718/Mother-koala-gives-new-meaning-drop-bear-completely-overestimating-jumping-skills.html 'Unluckily for the pair, they didn't quite make it but they certainly gave a whole new meaning to 'drop bear' - the fictitious and vicious Australian marsupial.'

Staff Writers. Herald Sun, 24 October 2014. "Australia’s greatest hoaxes: the pranks that tricked a nation".

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/australias-greatest-hoaxes-the-pranks-that-tricked-a-nation/story-fnpp4dl6-1227096265459 'There are a number of famous Australian animal hoaxes, perhaps most famous among them is the drop bear. They are said to be large, vicious, carnivorous marsupials related to koalas that drop from trees on tourists.'

Dumas, Daisy. Daily Life, 23 April 2014,

http://www.dailylife.com.au/lifestyle/prince-william-and-kate-prepare-for-date-night-in-the-desert-20140422-3727t.html 'Shannon Hunt also said that the Duke spoke about some of Australia's real wildlife including snakes - and the drop bear, a vicious, mythical creature said to pounce on travellers.'

Sharwood, Simon. The Register", 31 January 2014, "Prince William and Kate prepare for date night in the desert".

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/31/drop_bear_killer_koala_science_fun/ 'Journal editor Professor John Connell, from the University of Sydney's School of Geosciences, responded to our inquiry and suggestion drop bears are not real, by writing “Fictional – oh no, we’ve been duped” '

Switek, Brian. Slate, "These Horrifying Creatures Ought to Be Movie Stars".

http://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2013/11/08/syfy_monsters_scary_species_that_should_be_movie_stars.html 'The Australian version of the “snipe” of American snipe hunts is the legendary “drop bear,” said to be a ravenous version of a koala that drops from trees on unsuspecting victims. Thylacoleo could be the star of Drop Bear: Death From Above.'

West, Micheal. The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 December 2013, "Gas majors, hot air and supply".

http://www.smh.com.au/business/gas-majors-hot-air-and-supply-20131201-2yjqq.html 'Question: what do drop bears and the east-coast gas shortage have in common? Answer: they are both great Aussie myths.'

15. Miller, John, The Lingo Dictionary: Of Favourite Australian Words and Phrases. p. 88. 2011.

https://books.google.com.au/books?id=6eh4v2A_nqIC&pg=PA88&dq=Miller,+John,+Lingo+Dictionary:+drop+bear&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JJ4sVbPuBoG2mwX7kIG4Bg&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Miller%2C%20John%2C%20Lingo%20Dictionary%3A%20drop%20bear&f=false 'A fictional breed of koala that supposedly leaps out of trees onto unsuspecting tourists. A tale told to frighten away tourists.'

Books

Title Lily on the Dustbin: Slang of Australian Women and Families An Australian Penguin original An Australian original Penguin books Author Nancy Keesing Edition illustrated, reprint Publisher Penguin Books, 1982 ISBN 0140066349, 9780140066340 Length 188 pages. Pg 85. "The 'drop bears' are creatures of a tall story - they were invented during World War II for the benefit of gullible American servicemen. It is alleged that 'drop bears' are a dangerous kind of koala and that they drop out of trees on the heads and shoulders of bush walkers and hug them to death."

Franklin, Betty (1914), The Drop Bear Task Force, Kevin La Motte, ISBN 978-0-646-93018-3 (Note: 1914 is wrong, probably 2014) http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/191876862?q=%22Drop+bear%22&c=book&versionId=209646615 The Drop Bear Task Force, is a dedicated group of men and women who protect us from rogue Drop Bears. Join Leiu,Sarge and their loyal compaion Drop Dog, as they face their greatest challenge yet. To match wits and capture the bigest, badest Drop Bear that ever was.

Armstrong, Helen J (2012), Cave of the drop bear and other twisted tales, H. Armstrong, ISBN 978-1-922050-06-9 http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/172093272?q=%22Drop+bear%22&c=book&versionId=187638690 https://books.google.com.au/books?id=gEmJMwEACAAJ&dq=Armstrong,+Helen+J.+%22Cave+of+the+drop+bear%22+ISBN+9781922050069&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5q0sVe-0DqTOmwXJnoCYDw&redir_esc=y

Taming the Brooding Cattleman Front Cover Marion Lennox Harlequin, 4 Sep 2012 - Fiction - 192 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=M0WtZNarYBgC&pg=PA116&dq=Drop+Bear&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LK4sVYvxK8OmmAXqt4CgDw&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Drop%20Bear&f=false "'It'd be easier to shoot the drop bear but they're heavily protected. If it's a choice between an American vet or an Aussie drop bear, the drop bear wins every time.' She stared at him, her mouth open. And then slowly the strain on her face disappeared and was replaced by a grin. 'You're joshing me.' 'Why, yes,' he said, grinning right back."

Fire in the Tail: Bobby's Adventure Continues Down Under Mary Randall Xlibris Corporation, 1 Sep 2012 - Fiction - 208 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=zv7JI1wtZC0C&dq=Drop+Bear&source=gbs_navlinks_s "'the Drop Bear comes down from the trees and only comes out at night and if anyone dares to look at him he will claw your eyes out so then you can't see him. No one has ever seen a Drop Bear.'"

A Killing Frost Front Cover John Marsden Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 27 Apr 1998 - Juvenile Fiction - 288 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=YHf0Qdl5erQC&dq=Drop+Bear&source=gbs_navlinks_s "'it's none of my business if you end up wearing a drop bear for a hat, but if you want to keep that good-looking face attached to your head, I wouldn't recommend you spend any more time under threes'"

Crusty Crones Get Out and About: The cauldron has been stirred, where next? (Google eBook) Front Cover Harmonia Saille, Kimi Ravensky John Hunt Publishing, 16 Mar 2011 - Religion - 206 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Ty_tBAAAQBAJ&dq=Drop+Bear&source=gbs_navlinks_s (from section: Cryptozoology and Curious Creatures by Kimi) "they live in trees..they drop on the victim and rip and bite till they are senseless."

Kel Richards' Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (Google eBook) Front Cover Kel Richards NewSouth, 1 Feb 2013 - Humor - 310 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=dc5R_sSu-TcC&dq=Drop+Bear&source=gbs_navlinks_s "A drop bear is a savage marsupial that drops from gum trees onto unsuspecting travellers and tourists, uttering a wild and terrifying cry..their sensitive hearing can detect the sound of cameras clicking hundres of metres away."

The Science of Magic: Principia Mathemagica Front Cover S. F. Winser Lulu.com, 2010 - Fiction - 288 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=8OEmAgAAQBAJ&dq=Drop+Bear&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Great Australian Stories: Legends, Yarns and Tall Tales Front Cover Graham Seal ReadHowYouWant.com, 19 Oct 2010 - Australia - 284 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=kUEzm_xj3loC&dq=Drop+Bear&source=gbs_navlinks_s "Drop bears are mythical creatures of Australian tall-tale tradition the fall from the trees onto unsuspecting bush walkers..they serve as a peg around which brief yarns can be spontaneously spun, usually cautionary tales for tourists and new migrants."

Doctors Down Under: Dr Dave Dunbar (Google eBook) Front Cover Lucy Clark Harlequin Enterpises AU, 1 Mar 2015 - Fiction - 192 pages https://books.google.com.au/books?id=noyWBgAAQBAJ&dq=Drop+Bear&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Games

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/03/wait-crossy-road-has-a-drop-bear/

Film

Short film funded SA Film Stephen Banham’s Drop Bears (aka Bloodwood). http://www.safilm.com.au/library/SAFC2011-12AnnualReportFINAL.pdf http://www.safilm.com.au/library/BadbearsinrunningTheAdvertiser19May2014.pdf https://www.facebook.com/dropbearsthemovie http://www.thegeekieawards.com/drop-bears-attack-of-the-killer-koalas/

other stuff

http://andc.anu.edu.au/australian-words/meanings-origins?field_alphabet_value=91 "Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms This section contains a selection of Australian words, their meanings, and their etymologies. ... drop bear An animal similar in appearance to a koala, but about 1.5 metres in height, with very sharp claws and teeth. They eat other animals, but they also have a taste for humans, especially overseas tourists. Their name derives from the fact that they lurk in trees, and drop down on their unsuspecting victims."

http://andc.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/ozwords_april06.pdf request for help in origins "drop bear: before 1982" so they have a ref at 1982.

http://andc.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/Ozwords%20Apr.%202000_0.pdf 'Our earliest evidence for drop bears is in Nancy Keesing's Lily on the Dustbin (1982), and she claims that they were invented during the Second World War to frighten American servicemen' (pg 4)

Title Lily on the Dustbin: Slang of Australian Women and Families An Australian Penguin original An Australian original Penguin books Author Nancy Keesing Edition illustrated, reprint Publisher Penguin Books, 1982 Original from the University of Michigan Digitized 3 Jan 2007 ISBN 0140066349, 9780140066340 Length 188 pages

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/126887233?searchTerm=%22drop%20bear%22%20AND%20%22drop%20bear%22&searchLimits=exactPhrase=drop+bear%7C%7C%7Cl-decade=198%7C%7C%7Cl-year=1982 Canberra Times Sat. 31 July 1982, pg 24, Classifieds, 21st Birthdays "TAM. - Beware of drop bears in the future, for sure, totally love Clint. "

http://dropbearstore.com/ skateboards

It lacks canines, using broad powerful premolars as biting tools instead. http://australianmuseum.net.au/drop-bear

Janssen, V. 2012. Indirect tracking of drop bears using GNSS technology. Australian Geographer, 43 (4). pp. 445-452.

(diverse stories) http://blueswami.com/drop_bears.html https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091123105801AA6X4Rs http://monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Drop_bear (incl. the Alpine, Burrowing & Aquatic Drop Bears, also has a popular culture list w links)

http://wwwcryptiddatabasecom.wikifoundry.com/page/Drop+bear

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thylacoleo

The Secret Life of Wombats

By James Woodford

http://web.archive.org/web/20150422030142/http://www.animalsuits.com.au/shop/drop-bear-onesie/

http://www.cfzaustralia.com/p/about-us.html

Not directly relevent, but ... http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-23/dusty-the-kangaroo-thinks-he-is-a-farm-dog/6416520#.VTi0L64mXeg.mailto

Other Cryptozoology Articles Lead Sections

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Bigfoot (also known as Sasquatch) is the name given to a cryptid ape- or hominid-like creature that is said to inhabit forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid. The term sasquatch is an anglicized derivative of the Halkomelem word sásq'ets.[2][3][4]

Scientists discount the existence of Bigfoot and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoax,[5] rather than a living animal, because of the lack of physical evidence and the large numbers of creatures that would be necessary to maintain a breeding population.[6][7] Scientists Grover Krantz and Jeffrey Meldrum have focused research on the alleged creature for the greater parts of their careers.

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The bunyip, or kianpraty,[1] is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology, said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes. The origin of the word bunyip has been traced to the Wemba-Wemba or Wergaia language of Aboriginal people of South-Eastern Australia.[2][3][4] However, the bunyip appears to have formed part of traditional Aboriginal beliefs and stories throughout Australia, although its name varied according to tribal nomenclature.[5] In his 2001 book, writer Robert Holden identified at least nine regional variations for the creature known as the bunyip across Aboriginal Australia.[6] Various written accounts of bunyips were made by Europeans in the early and mid-19th century, as settlement spread across the country.

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The Yeti (/ˈjɛti/)[3] or Abominable Snowman (Nepali: हिममानव, lit. "mountain man") is an ape-like cryptid taller than an average human that is said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet.[4] The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology. Stories of the Yeti first emerged as a facet of Western popular culture in the 19th century.

The scientific community generally regards the Yeti as a legend, given the lack of conclusive evidence,[5] but it remains one of the most famous creatures of cryptozoology.

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The chupacabra or chupacabras (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃupaˈkaβɾas], literally "goat-sucker") is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas, with the first sightings reported in Puerto Rico.[1] The name comes from the animal's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats.

Physical descriptions of the creature vary. It is purportedly a heavy creature, the size of a small bear, with a row of spines reaching from the neck to the base of the tail.

Eyewitness sightings have been claimed as early as 1995 in Puerto Rico, and have since been reported as far north as Maine, and as far south as Chile, and even being spotted outside the Americas in countries like Russia and The Philippines, but many of the reports have been disregarded as uncorroborated or lacking evidence. Sightings in northern Mexico and the southern United States have been verified as canids afflicted by mange.[2] Biologists and wildlife management officials view the chupacabra as a contemporary legend.[3]

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Phantom cats, also known as Alien Big Cats (ABCs) - large felines, such as jaguars, cougars, and leopards - allegedly appear in regions outside their indigenous range. Sightings, tracks and predation have been reported in a number of countries and states including Canada, Britain, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Eastern United States, Hawaii, Italy and Luxembourg.

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The agogwe is a purported small human-like biped reported from the forests of East Africa. It is 1 to 1.7 m (3.3 to 5.6 ft) tall with long arms and long rust-coloured woolly hair and is said to have yellowish-red skin under its coat. It has also been reported as having black or grey hair. Its feet are said to be about 12 cm (5 in) long with opposable toes. Alleged differences between it and known apes include a rounded forehead, small canines and its hair and skin colour.

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The ahool is a flying cryptid, supposedly a giant bat,[1] or by other accounts, a living pterosaur or flying primate.[2] Such a creature is unknown to science and there is no objective evidence that it exists as claimed.

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The Altamaha-ha (or Altie) is a posited aquatic creature, alleged to inhabit the myriad network of small streams and abandoned rice fields near the mouth of the Altamaha River (after which it has been named) in southeastern Georgia, United States.[1] Sightings are particularly reported around Darien and elsewhere in McIntosh County.[2]

The legend has its roots in Native American tradition.[3] Cryptozoologists report that there have been uniform sightings of the creature, in which witnesses claim the creature is 30-feet long, and swims like a seal, rather than a fish or eel.[1] They claim the rare sightings are due to the creature's green skin, allowing it to blend into the surrounding area.[3]

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Tales about the existence of the Beaman Monster in Kansas City have been around for more than a century. There is no proof, however, that such a creature exists. The common tale goes that in 1904, a circus train derailed. During the crash its animals escaped, but were quickly retrieved. Unfortunately, one of the biggest and most-feared animals, a "12-foot-tall gorilla" had eluded capture. The tales claim that the Beaman Monster was the offspring of the circus animal escapee.[1]

Although there is no evidence, the Beaman Monster's existence is not impossible.[2]

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The Bear Lake Monster is a cryptid appearing in local folk-lore near Bear Lake, on the Utah–Idaho border.

The myth originally grew from articles written in the 19th century by Joseph C. Rich, a Mormon colonizer in the area, purporting to report second-hand accounts of sightings of the creature. However, he later recanted the stories.[1]

In recent years the monster is considered to be a tourist attraction. The last reported sighting of the monster was in 2002.[2]

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The Devil Bird, locally known as Ulama, is a cryptid of Sri Lanka said to emit bloodcurdling human sounding shrieks in the night from within the jungles. In Sri Lankan folklore, it is believed that the cry of this bird is an omen that portends death. Its precise identity is still a matter of debate although the Spot-bellied Eagle-owl matches the profile of Devil Bird to a large extent, according to a finding in the year 2001.[1]

As the bird is not usually seen and its cry only described in vague terms, Ulama records might refer to the Ceylon Highland Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus kelaarti); the males of the latter are known to have a screaming flight-call atypical for nightjars[citation needed].

"Devil Bird or Ulama or Ulalena. The precise identity of this bird is one of the mysteries of the Ceylon jungles. Its eerie cries have been attributed to a variety of birds. The most likely candidates however are: the Forest Eagle-owl (Bubo nipalensis) for the up country area, the hawk-eagles and the Crested Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis) in the lowland jungles."[citation needed]

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The Huay Chivo[pronunciation?] is a legendary Mayan beast. It is a half-man, half-beast creature, with burning red eyes, and is specific to the Yucatán Peninsula. It is often said to be an evil sorcerer who can transform himself into a supernatural animal, usually a goat, dog or deer, in order to prey upon livestock. In recent times it has become associated with the chupacabras. The Huay Chivo is specific to the south-eastern Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo. Alleged Huay Chivo activity is sporadically reported in the regional press. Local maya near the town of Valladolid, in Yucatán, believe the Huay Chivo is an evil sorcerer that is capable of transforming into a goat to do mischief and eat livestock.

The Huay Chivo is a local variation of the Mesoamerican Nahual.

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The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore (a so-called fearsome critter) described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The word "jackalope" is a portmanteau of "jackrabbit" and "antelope", although the jackrabbit is not a rabbit, and the American antelope is not an antelope. Also, many jackalope taxidermy mounts, including the original, are actually made with deer antlers.

Douglas Herrick and his brother, hunters with taxidermy skills, popularized the American jackalope in Douglas, Wyoming, in the 1930s by grafting deer antlers onto a jackrabbit carcass and selling the combination to a local hotel. Thereafter, they made and sold many similar jackalopes to a retail outlet in South Dakota, and another taxidermist continues to manufacture the horned rabbits in the 21st century. Stuffed and mounted, jackalopes are found in many bars and other places in the United States; stores catering to tourists sell jackalope postcards and other paraphernalia, and commercial entities in America and elsewhere have used the word "jackalope" or a jackalope logo as part of their marketing strategies. The jackalope has appeared in published stories, poems, television shows, and video games, and a low-budget mockumentary film, and the Wyoming Legislature has considered bills to make the jackalope the state's official mythological creature.

The underlying legend of the jackalope, upon which the Wyoming taxidermists were building, may be related to similar stories in other cultures and other historical times. Researchers suggest that at least some of the tales of horned hares were inspired by sightings of rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus. It causes horn- and antler-like tumors to grow in various places on a rabbit's head and body.

Folklorists see the jackalope as one of a group of fabled creatures common to American culture since Colonial days. These appear in tall tales about hodags, giant turtles, Bigfoot, and many other mysterious beasts and in novels like Moby Dick. The tales lend themselves to comic hoaxing by entrepreneurs who seek attention for their products, their persons, or their towns.

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The Kaijin (海人, literally meaning "Sea Man") is a cryptid, an alleged sea monster living in Japan. It is mentioned in the books of the Edo period.

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Kraken (/ˈkreɪkən/ or /ˈkrɑːkən/)[1] is a legendary sea monster of large proportions that is said to dwell off the coasts of Norway and Greenland. The legend may have originated from sightings of giant squid that are estimated to grow to 12–15 m (40–50 ft) in length, including the tentacles.[2][3] The sheer size and fearsome appearance attributed to the kraken have made it a common ocean-dwelling monster in various fictional works

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The Kumi Lizard is a cryptid reptile, possibly a giant monitor lizard, which allegedly once lived in New Zealand.[1] It is similar to the giant extinct Australian lizard Megalania except that it allegedly lives in trees.[2]

In New Zealand Mysteries, author Robyn Gosset refers to a sighting of a Kumi in 1898 by a Maori bushman. Its length was estimated at 1.5 metres. In the first edition of the book, Gosset refers to several more accounts of the lizard which are absent from the second edition. These include an account from captain James Cook, who was told by Maori in Queen Charlotte Sound that huge, arboreal lizards were present in the surrounding bushland, and that they were greatly feared, as well as a sighting from 1875 of a large lizard washed up in a flooded Hokianga river and the discovery of bones possibly from the animal that same year. In more recent times sightings have become rarer. The most recent reports both come from 1898, one describing a large reptile seen near Gisbourne, the other a huge creature akin to a monitor lizard which threatened a bushman in Arowhana before retreating into a Rata tree. Although the animal itself was not spotted again, photographs of its footprints were taken.[3]

One possible explanation could be the crocodile monitor, Varanus salvador, which is native to New Guinea. Crocodile monitors can grow to 13 feet in length, and, throughout their lives, spend at least part of their time in the trees. Since monitors are good swimmers, and crocodile monitors do live on an island, it is not impossible that the crocodile monitor is the source of the legend.

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Lariosauro is a cryptid reported to live in Lake Como in Italy, about 30 miles north of Milan. Como is one of the deepest European lakes, at about 410 m (1200 feet) at the deepest location

In 1946, eyewitnesses allegedly reported seeing a reptile-like animal swimming in the waters of the lake. It was called lariosauro, the same name used a century before to name a prehistoric reptile whose fossilized remains were found by the lake (Lariosaurus balsami). A weekly of Como, a week after the first article, wrote it was a sturgeon, but the sturgeon as well as the monster appear to be more simply a hoax invented by the press.

There were other sightings, or alleged sightings, in Lake Como.

   In 1954 in Argegno a creature with round muzzle and back and webbed paws.
   In August 1957 an enormous monster in the waters between Dongo and Musso.
   In September 1957 a strange animal whose head was described as similar to a crocodile head.
   In 2003 a giant eel, 10–12 m long, in Lecco.

Skeptic researcher Giorgio Castiglioni, who studied these cases, thinks that the animal of 1954 was an otter, the monster of August 1957 a hoax, the beast of September 1957 possibly a pike and the 2003 eel actually a group of fish swimming together.

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The Loveland Frog (aka the Loveland Lizard) is a legendary humanoid frog described as standing roughly 4 feet (1.2 m) tall, allegedly spotted in Loveland, Ohio.[1] A local man reported seeing three froglike men at the side of the road in 1955, and a police officer claimed to have seen a similar creature on a bridge in the city in 1972.[3]

University of Cincinnati folklore professor Edgar Slotkin compared the Loveland frog to Paul Bunyan, saying that stories about it have been passed down for "several decades" and that sighting reports seem to come in predictable cycles.[4]

In May 2014, the incidents were made into a musical, titled Hot Damn! It’s the Loveland Frog!.[3]

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The mapinguari or mapinguary (Spanish pronunciation: [mapiŋɡwaˈɾi]), also known as the Isnashi [isˈnaʃi], is a legendary cryptid said to resemble an ape–like creature with red fur living in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil and Bolivia. The name is usually translated as “the roaring animal” or “the fetid beast”.

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In Hawaiian mythology, the Menehune are said to be a people, sometimes described as dwarfs in size, who live in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands, far from the eyes of normal humans. Their favorite food is the maiʻa (banana), and they also like fish.

The Menehune were said to be superb craftspeople. Legends say that the Menehune built temples (heiau), fishponds, roads, canoes, and houses. Some of these structures that Hawaiian folklore attributed to the Menehune still exist. They are said to have lived in Hawaiʻi before settlers arrived to Polynesia many centuries ago.

In Beckwith's Hawaiian Mythology, there are references to several other forest dwelling races: the Nawao, who were large-sized wild hunters descended from Lua-nuʻu, the mu people, and the wa people.[1]

Some early scholars theorized that there was a first settlement of Hawaiʻi, by settlers from the Marquesas Islands, and a second, from Tahiti. The Tahitian settlers oppressed the "commoners", the manahune in the Tahitian language, who fled to the mountains and were called Menahune. Proponents of this theory point to an 1820 census of Kauaʻi by Kaumualiʻi, the ruling Aliʻi Aimoku of the island, which listed 65 people as menehune.[2]

Folklorist Katharine Luomala believes that the legends of the Menehune are a post-European contact mythology created by adaptation of the term manahune (which by the time of the settling of the Hawaiian Islands had acquired a meaning of "lowly people" or "low social status" and not diminutive in stature) to European legends of brownies.[3] '"It is claimed that "Menehune are not mentioned in pre-contact mythology, although this is unproven since it was clearly an oral mythology; the legendary "overnight" creation of the Alekoko fishpond, for example, finds its equivalent in the legend[4] about the creation of a corresponding structure on Oʻahu, which was supposedly indeed completed in a single day — not by menehune but, as a show of power, by a local aliʻi who demanded every one of his subjects to appear at the construction site and assist in building.

No physical evidence for the existence of a historical peoples that fit the description of the Menehune has been discovered. [5]

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Ogopogo or Naitaka (Salish: n'ha-a-itk, "lake demon") is the name given to a cryptid lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake, in British Columbia, Canada. Ogopogo has been allegedly seen by First Nations people since the 19th century. The most common description of Ogopogo is a 40 to 50-foot-long (12 to 15 m) sea serpent.

British cryptozoologist Karl Shuker has categorized the Ogopogo as a 'many hump' variety of lake monster, and suggested it may be a kind of primitive serpentine whale such as Basilosaurus. However, because the physical evidence for the beast is limited to unclear photographs and film, it has also been suggested that the sightings are misidentifications of common animals, such as otters, and inanimate objects, such as floating logs.[1]

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The Ozark Howler, also known as the Ozark Black Howler, is a legendary creature that is purported to live in remote areas in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The Ozark Howler is typically described as being bear sized, with thick body, stocky legs, black shaggy hair, and as having prominent horns. Its cry is often described as being a combination of a wolf's howl and an elk's bugle.

Cryptozoologists have speculated that the creature might be a misidentified or unrecognized big cat. Anthropologists have speculated that the creature might be a branching off of the dark dogs of death found in British folklore.

Chad Arment asserts in his book Cryptozoology that the Ozark Howler myth is a hoax. According to Arment, he and many other cryptozoologists received email messages that made wild claims about Ozark Howler evidence. These messages were tracked down to a university student who had made a bet that he could fool the cryptozoological research community.[1] However, many witnesses to seeing it in person in the region, prior to this hoax, show that Chad Arment's assertion was only correct in the one case, but not in the many cases of those who either haven't a computer, have seen the Howler prior to the hoax or have seen it without hearing of the legend.

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Selma is a large snake-like lake monster said to live in Lake Seljord in Seljord, Telemark, Norway.

According to most who have seen the supposed creature, Selma closely resembles other reported lake monsters, such as Nessie, Champ, and Ogopogo. The first eyewitness accounts date back to the 18th century. Selma was possibly recorded in video by a Norwegian girl, who was visiting the lake with her parents. Locals think the video looks reliable, and the phenomenon is real.

Various expeditions have repeatedly visited Seljord in a vain attempt to prove that Selma exist. Swedish cryptozoologist, Jan Ove Sundberg, has been trying to capture Selma for a number of years, but has not succeeded. [1]

The sea serpent Selma has been depicted in the coat of arms of Seljord since 1989. Designed by local artist, Halvor Holtskog, the arms show Selma in a gold-color on a red background.[2]

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Sewer alligator stories date back to the late 1920s and early 1930s; in most instances they are part of contemporary legend. They are based upon reports of alligator sightings in rather unorthodox locations, in particular New York City.

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In Alpine folklore, the Tatzelwurm is a stubby, lizard-like creature. It takes the appearance of a cat with the hind-end of a serpent with no hind legs. It is rumored to live in several areas of Europe, including the Austrian, Bavarian, Italian and Swiss Alps. It has several regional names including Stollenwurm, Springwurm, Arassas and Praatzelwurm. In 1934 a Swiss photographer named Balkin allegedly saw a strange creature near a log and photographed it. The resulting interest in the creature inspired the Berliner Illustrierte to sponsor an expedition in search of the Tatzelwurm, but the expedition was a failure and interest quickly faded. Some scientists and cryptozoologists agree that the 1934 Tatzelwurm photograph was a hoax, but reports of Tatzelwurm sightings have continued to the present day, and German cryptozoological researcher Ulrich Magin has published several articles in Fortean Times and his own magazine Bilk documenting them.

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The Trinity Alps giant salamander is an alleged giant salamander that is reported to live in the Trinity Alps of northern California. It is often considered a cryptid, as no specimen has ever been recovered and it is not a recognized species. Although the salamander is larger than most salamander species inside the United States, it is comparable in size to the hellbender. It was first reported in the 19th century and has not been reported frequently since the early 20th century.

Tom Slick led an expedition to search for the creatures, but it was not successful. An elderly man interviewed during the expedition claimed to have seen several salamanders the size of alligators on the lake shore in his youth.

A member of the giant salamander family (Cryptobranchidae), known as the hellbender is found in the eastern United States, and in fact the cryptobranchid family may have had its origins in North America.[1]

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Urayuli, or "Hairy Men",[1] are a mythical race of creatures that live in the woodland areas of southwestern Alaska. Stories of the Urayuli describe them as standing 10 feet tall with long shaggy fur and luminescent eyes. They are said to emit a high pitch cry, resembling that of a loon. Their long, lanky arms have been described as reaching down to their ankles.

Rumored to live in the forests near the area of Lake Iliamna, the Urayuli are said to be peaceful creatures, unlike the Kushtaka of Southeastern Alaska.

It is said the Urayuli are transformed children who become lost in the woods at night. It is possible that this tale was started to keep children indoors at night.

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A Wendigo (also known as windigo, weendigo, windago, windiga, witiko, wihtikow, and numerous other variants including manaha)[1] is a demonic half-beast creature appearing in the legends of the Algonquian peoples along the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes Region of both the United States and Canada. The creature or spirit could either possess characteristics of a human or a monster that had physically transformed from a person. It is particularly associated with cannibalism. The Algonquian believed those who indulged in eating human flesh were at particular risk;[2] the legend appears to have reinforced the taboo of the practice of cannibalism. It is often described in Algonquian mythology as a balance of nature.

The legend lends its name to the disputed modern medical term Wendigo psychosis. This is supposed to be a culture-bound disorder that features symptoms such as an intense craving for human flesh and a fear the sufferer is a cannibal. This condition was alleged to have occurred among Algonquian native cultures,[3] but remains disputed.

The Wendigo legend has inspired a number of derived characters commonly found in modern horror fiction.