"A" Is For Almas - A Cryptozoology Quick Reference Guide

Mitchell Waite of MogollonMonster.com recently posted the first installment of a cryptozoology quick reference guide online. What better place to start than the letter "A"? See how many of these you know:

ADJULE Also known as the Kelb-el-khela (male) and the Tarhsit (female) are canine-like creatures which inhabit only desert regions, and they are almost exclusively reported to inhabit North Africa in the Sahara Desert.

AGOGWE This human-like biped is found in East Africa usually near or in dense jungle. Locals refer to them with different names including Agogure, Agogue, Kakundakari, Kilombia, and Sehite. There have been several reported sightings in 1900, 1938, and tracks found in the 1950 through 1960.

AHOOL The Ahool (Pterapus Boomus ) is described as being a type of Pterosaur, flying primate, or large bat type creature. The body is covered with black or grey fur, and it is about the size of a one year old human. The creature has large claws are large at the end of its forearms. The wings span from three to ten feet.

AKKOROKAMUI The Akkorokamui has not been confirmed and is thought to be either a giant squid or giant octopus living in the waters of Funka Bay near the Japanese island Hokkaido located on the north end of Japan. It has also been reported in the waters around Thailand.

ALMAS The Almas also known as Abnauayu, Almasty, Albasty, Bekk-bok, Biabin-guli, Golub-yayan, Gul-biavan, Auli-avan, Kaptar, Kra-dhun, Ksy-gyik, Ochokochi, Mirygdy, Mulen, Voita, and Wind-man. The term Almas is Mongolian for “Wild man”.

ALTAMAH-HA The Altamaha-ha is the “sea serpent” of Georgia. It has been reported in the small streams near the Altamah River of Georgia near the town of Darien. There has been no physical evidence collected of the actual existence, but there have been many accounts of swimmers bumping into the creature.

AMERANTHROPOIDES LOYSI The Ameranthropoides loysi (De Loy’s Ape) is reported to be a large primate living in the jungles between Columbia and Venezuela. There is only one photo of the creature, and it looks very much like a Spider Monkey. The photo was taken by an expedition led by François De Loys in 1920.

Amomongo The Amomongo (Negros Ape) is an unconfirmed primate said to exist on the Negros Island of the Philippines . The local people believe the cryptid lives in caves at the base of Mt. Kanlaon and they sometimes call the creature the “wild monkey”. It is described as being gorilla-like and stands about five and one half feet tall.

ANDEAN WOLF The Andean Wolf has been shrouded in mystery as to its actual existence. This is one of the few cryptids that were discovered not by sightings or legends, but by its pelt. An animal dealer in Buenos Aires sold three pelts to Lorenz Hagenbeck in 1927.

ASWANG[MW1] During my stay in the Philippines, I got to know many of the residents and they shared many of their stories of cryptid creatures within the country. Probably the most feared was the Aswang. This name is a multi meaning term for all types ofshape-shifters, witches, vampires, werewolves, and manananggals. My Filipino friends describe the Aswang as being a vampire-like creatures that eats the dead.

AYIA NAPA SEA MONSTER Sea Monster cryptids are always interesting because we do not know what lurks in the depths of the sea. Just about the time science thinks they know it all, a new creature is reported or found. There is always the possibility of fantastic beasts swimming the sea to emerge from time to time to astound maritime travelers

For more info, and links to more details about each cryptid, click here.