- The Loch Ness Monster,
Big Foot, the Yeti. These are all unexplained creatures which people believed roamed
the remote places of the world. But while these monsters are infamous, there are many mysterious
and frightening cryptids which lurk in strange places, just out of sight of the human eye. And you may not even be aware of them. So those are exactly what we're
going to talk about today. (ghostly roar) Here are 10 mystifying cryptids
that hide in the shadows. Number 10 is the Snallygaster. The Snallygaster is said to live in parts of Maryland, in Washington D.C. Descriptions of it go
back to German immigrants from the 1730s who recorded
how a town was terrorized by a terrible creature
that resembled a cross between a reptile and a bird, but with large teeth instead of its beak. Even in the 21st century, there have been eyewitness accounts of this terrifying dragon-like animal. One way that locals used to
warn off the Snallygaster when it was near, was to
paint a 5-pointed star on the outside of a building. If you ever visit parts of
Maryland in Washington D.C., and see such a star painted
on a barn or a home, you know that the beast has been sighted. It's foolhardy to discard these rituals as simple superstition. Especially considering
that the Snallygaster reportedly drinks human blood. Number nine is the Tokoloshe. (gentle ghostly music) The Tokoloshe has been seen
for centuries in South Africa. It's said that the creature is small, dwarf-like, and has
hair all over its body. Some people have mistaken it for a monkey. But when the Tokoloshe
reveals its true personality, there is no doubt that it is something dangerous and frightening. The Tokoloshe is often seen scuttling around the banks of a river. But many have also attributed supernatural properties to it, such as possession in
bringing about misfortune. When the Tokoloshe is near, some locals put their children's
beds up on brick piles, so that they're raised off of the floor. This is because when
the Tokoloshe appears, it can climb up onto the bed
and carry out its attacks. Whether an animal or
a supernatural entity, the Tokoloshe is known
for bringing ruin down upon all who encounter it. Number eight is the Utah Dire Wolf. One cryptid that we know
existed is the Dire Wolf. And some believe this animal still exists in small populations throughout Utah. Scientists believe that
the Dire Wolf went extinct as far back as 125,000 years ago. It was massive, reaching
at least the same size as the largest wolves
that we've seen today, if not much larger. It also had far larger teeth, which were used to shear through flesh. Several encounters with this
supposedly extinct creature had been recorded including one man who shot the animal point blank and yet it survived unscathed. Some have postulated that the
Dire Wolf is still roaming parts of the US, is very secretive, and has much thicker
hide than common wolves, making it almost impervious
to any hunting weapon. Number seven is the White River Monster. (gentle ghostly music) Reports of the White River Monster go back to at least the
1800s if not further back. This aquatic creature supposedly
lives in the White River in Northeastern Arkansas, hence the name. And it has an interesting
story and history. Some believe the creature had
an impact on the Civil War when it attacked some boats on the river, but it wasn't officially
first-sighted until 1915. An eyewitness described it as a massive gray object in the water, at least as long as three cars. When the creature was seen in 1971, it was described as having a large horn protruding from its head, and spines running along its back. Encounters with the creature have taken on a more sinister element ever since several
people reported seeing it come out of the water, walking on land, and crushing anything in its path. Number six is the Nuckelavee. (gentle ghostly music) The Nuckelavee is an Arcadian
mythological creature which roamed the coastal
areas of Northern Scotland for thousands of years. Seen as the worst of all demons, the creature's supposedly
contained by the ferocious waves of the surrounding sea, but can crawl up onto
land and devour passersby. The Nuckelavee has been depicted as resembling a human
with equine features. This myth, however, may
have its basis in something which is truly out there
and still undiscovered. Similar stories have
been told of encounters with this creature throughout Ireland, and as far as the Scandinavian countries. All of them described the same being having a huge gaping
mouth and covered in veins which pulsate with black putrid blood. Number five is the Bunyip. (gentle ghostly music) In Australia, the indigenous population has many frightening
descriptions of things which are still undiscovered
by the wider world. Once such cryptid is the Bunyip. The full translation of
the word means evil spirit. But some believe it's a legitimate animal waiting to be discovered
in the vast emptiness of the Australian outback. The Aboriginal people
truly fear the Bunyip which is said to be a
huge creature of darkness. But exact descriptions are always vague. This could be due to the
elusiveness of the Bunyip, if it actually exists. It's been said to have
starfish-like appendages, tusks and a huge snout like a crocodile. Some believe the Bunyip is
more than simple storytelling and is in fact a surviving relic from when much larger animals, known as megafauna, walked the earth. Animals so big they could
swallow a human whole. Number four is the Lizard
Man of South Carolina. (gentle ghostly music) Some of the most uncomfortable
descriptions of cryptids are those which seem almost human. These are the many cryptids which are described as
humanoid in appearance. And the Lizard of South
Carolina is just one of them. As recently as the 1980s, there were news reports and investigations into the Lizard Man, with some claiming that their family pets had been consumed by it. Another eyewitness report described how the Lizard Man had hunted down a deer and was carrying it across a highway. The Lizard Man continues to be of interest in the local area, and though interest in
the cryptid has wavered, rumors persist that on long
stretches of lonely road, it can still be seen
darting between the trees, looking for its next meal. Number three is the Beast of Bray Road. (gentle ghostly music) In Wisconsin, the Beast of Bray Road has been seen several times. This cryptid has a terrifying appearance, looking like a human being with the twisted features of a dog. Researchers believe that
the stories of this creature should be seen as independent
from werewolf mythology as it appears to be more like a human dog hybrid than a wolf. First reported in 1935, the Beast of Bray Road
has one characteristic which makes it more imposing than most. Unlike other similar cryptids, the Beast of Bray Road has
been seen moving in packs. In one encounter, three of
the creatures were observed drinking from a watering hole together. The fact that they may live in groups makes them even more dangerous than any cryptid wandering alone. Number two is the Bullebak. (gentle ghostly music) Troll mythology is common
throughout the world. They're described sometimes as being much larger than humans or much smaller, but always as a kind of
perverted form of humanity. One myth, however, lays
the tantalizing possibility at our feet that such a
creature does indeed exists. The Bullebak has been seen crawling out from underneath the bridge of
the same name in Amsterdam. It crosses one of the city's many canals, where some believe the creature hides, traveling through the
vast network of waterways. Folklorists argue about
whether the creature is an angry spirit or some
kind of physical being. But in all descriptions, the Bullebak is known
to be particularly fond of unwary passersby and children, reaching up from beneath the bridge to pull them into the water. And number one is the Rougarou. (gentle ghostly music) In the swamps surrounding
Greater New Orleans, there's a legendary
creature which some believe is just waiting to be discovered. The Rougarou was first described by French settlers in Louisiana. And the creature seems to have followed them from the Old World. Eyewitness accounts of the Rougarou describe it as walking
like a stooped human being but with fur over its
face and large fangs. Early stories claim that
the creature was a product of a human disease or blood curse transmitted from person to person. But some believe the creature is of an entirely different kind. It's said that this creature still wanders through the thick swamps of Louisiana. And maybe the reason behind some of the unusual
disappearances in the region. But what exactly happened to
those that have gone missing? Maybe too much to bear thinking about.
