Cryptids are classified as creatures that are theorised to exist with supposed evidence but have no scientific factual evidence to prove their existence. Myths, legends, and alleged sightings of these creatures have spawned numerous theories across cultures and regions worldwide.
Grading Criteria: We will take into consideration how popular these cryptids are as how much they are mentioned in their respective cultures.
10: Kappa
The kappa is a water-dwelling demon or “sprite” hailing from Japanese folklore, inhabiting the waterways of Japan such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. While its depiction varies in different regions, its physicality resembles a humanoid with a reptilian or amphibious-like appearance, with green-coloured, scaly skin and webbed feet and hands. Kappa’s are renown for their cunning and mischievous nature often reflecting this behaviour with humans with pranks and tricks being performed – occasionally with malice. A common “prank” they play is dragging unsuspecting people and animals into bodies of water in which they may drown. Their most horrific of actions is said to be dragging women into the water to then sexually assault them, and drinking the blood and eating the internal organs of its drowned victims. Kappa’s are said to covet cucumbers and that offering cucumbers or slices of one would distract and even keep kappa’s away. There are still many sightings of kappa’s across Japan, mostly in rural areas. To this day, signs put up my people can still be found in bodies of water where kappa’s are suspected to inhabit.
9: Jersey Devil
The Jersey Devil is said to originate from the forests of Pine Barrens in Southern New Jersey, United States. It’s often described as a flying, hooved biped with a goat-like head, bat-like wings, and a forked tail. Its origins date back to the 18th Century where colonial Americans reported sightings. It was said to be the cursed 13th child of a woman named Jane Leeds – the woman, after discovering she was pregnant again, cursed the child believing it to be “The Devil”. Many sightings of the creature have been recorded that have baffled cryptozoologists for years, no actual evidence supports its existence and many of the alleged sightings have been linked to false animal identifications and hoaxes. The creature has a distinct scream that has also been linked to its sightings where it has been supposedly spotted killing livestock and said to bring chaos into local towns where it terrorises animals and children.
8: Mothman
A prominent figure in American folklore, the mothman is described as a large, winged humanoid creature with glowing red eyes, commonly inhabiting Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The first sighting that was publicised is said to be in 1966 where a “large, flying creature with glowing red eyes” was reported. In subsequent years, numerous reports of similar sightings were being reported of the same figure that was about 6/7 Feet in height with massive wings and the same big, red eyes reported. Sightings are mostly reported as being at nighttime and it is also said to give chase and let out a loud, screeching noise. In 1975, a book, called “The Mothman Prophecies” by John Keel, brought national attention to the cryptid where it described various sightings coupled with some theories and investigations. In Point Pleasant, there is now a museum dedicated to the creature, showcasing some memorabilia, eyewitness accounts, and historical records related to the Mothman sightings including a link to the collapse of a bridge killing over 40 people in 1967.
7: Thunderbird
A legendary bird that is spoken of in Native American tribes, it’s said to be big enough to carry a whale, and can create thunder and lighting by flapping its wings. The bird is seen as a guardian, watching over the people, whilst punishing any evil and keeping the peace and balance. Depictions of the creature vary from different tribes but it is often described as colourful, with some depictions stating it has teeth and horns. It is known for bringing fertility to the lands and ensuring the survival of the people as a spiritual leader. Sightings of an unknown species of big bird across America may have inspired thunderbird legends and occasional modern sightings are often associated with the myth.
6: Mongolian Death Worm 
The Mongolian Death Worm is said to dwell in the Gobi deserts, primarily in the southern regions of Mongolia, reaching lengths of around 3-feet long. It’s usually depicted as a giant, red-coloured worm. It’s first sighting was reported in 1929, a monstrous worm that lay beneath the sand and would wait for the vibrations of anything above to which it would then shoot out of the sand, incapacitate with an electrical charge before spitting highly-corrosive acidic venom at its prey. In Mongolia for a time, people were forbidden to speak of this creature and even banned the search of it in the desert, until towards the end of the 20th Century where expeditions were commissioned to find the creature but with no luck or evidence suggested found of its existence. Mongolian legend tells that it was once an animal’s intestine that actually came to life.
5: Mokele-Mbembe
The “one who stops the flow of rivers,” as its called by the natives, is a legendary creature said to inhabit the Congo River Basin in Central Africa. The Mokele-Mbembe is generally depicted as a long sauropod-like creature with a long tail and neck, measuring up to 30 feet in length, often described as the Loch Ness monster of Africa. It is described locally as a peaceful herbivorous creature inhabiting remote areas of the Congo basin mainly in bodies of waters such as rivers and lakes, and not a threat unless disturbed. The earliest reports date back to the early 20th Century by Western explorers describing a large reptilian creature in the Congo Basin, although the indigenous people had long been reporting sightings of a majestic creature. No major evidence to support its existence has been found and in the 1980s some cryptozoologists set out on some expeditions to find the elusive creature with no success. Theories include that such a creature could be a part of a surviving sauropod family of dinosaurs in which a small population of them survived in the remote jungles of Africa.
4: Yeti
The Yeti, or the Abominable Snowman, is a large white furred creature with an ape like appearance said to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range. An elusive and solitary creature, reports and local legends of the yeti have been a part of the cultures that reside in the region for many years. In 195, however, a British mountaineer called Eric Shipton photographed large footprints in the snow during an expedition on the slopes of Mount Everest. In more recent years, DNA analysis has been used on alleged Yeti hair and tissue samples but found that this actually belonged to a species of local bear, which sightings of Yeti’s can also be attributed to. Nevertheless the Yeti has become a hot topic in the field of Cryptozoology and has led to more conservation efforts in the region to better understand the wildlife, not to mention its impact in modern fiction and literature.
3: Chupacabra
The mysterious Chupacabra is a well-known cryptid that is very prominent in Latin American Folklore whose name in Spanish translates to “”goat-sucker”. It is known for attacking livestock, mainly goats, and drinking their blood then leaving behind their drained carcasses. The first ever reported sighting of the creature was in Puerto Rico in the mid 90s, where it was reported in a newspaper of some attacks on livestock that had supposedly had their blood drained. Ever since, reports of sightings in other countries across Latin America and even some parts of the US have arised. Its depiction varies: in some cases it has been reported to look like a reptilian creature with spines and scaly grey skin; but in more modern sightings, it is depicted as a creature of a canine form with large teeth. No evidence exists for this creature, and alleged sightings have been attributed to other animals, particularly coyotes with certain skin diseases giving them a different appearance and so resembling the creature. Nevertheless this creature has made its way into pop culture and there have been many media adaptations of the creature – making it extremely popular.
2: Loch Ness Monster
One of the most well-known and highly controversial cryptid out there. The Loch Ness Monster continues to be a cryptid that has had immense efforts taken to prove its existence. The creature is said to resemble a “plesiosaur”, an extinct species of marine reptile from the time of the dinosaurs in the Mesozoic Era living in Loch Ness which is a large freshwater lake in Scotland. The most iconic picture relating to Nessie is probably the photo from 1934, showing a long neck and head in the water which was later proved to be a hoax. However, evidence to suggest its existence actually goes back to the 6th Century, where Saint Columba had supposedly sighted a man being dragged into the water by a beast. In the following years up to modern day, countless videos and photographic evidence have been shared which show disturbances and odd shapes in the water but none are concrete enough to prove its existence. Various scientific expeditions involving sonar have also been launched in which a few anomalies were detected but nothing solid in terms of evidence. This is one of the most popular cryptids in the world, which has birthed much media and tourism attention.
1: Bigfoot
The famous Bigfoot has long been another staple of cryptid creatures. Bigfoot has been a hot topic since the 1950s where its sightings and reports began across North America and Canada. It interestingly resembles a similar creature in North American folklore of the indigenous tribes. It’s depiction is said to be a humanoid, ape-like creature up to 10 feet tall with grey/reddish fur and, usually, a dark face. Unlike others on this list, Bigfoot has an extensive history of collected evidence that keep it alive and talking amongst Cryptozoologists. Such pieces of evidence include giant footprints found and not shown to match any known living creature and even a claimed sighting in a video name the Patterson-Gimlin film, which was shot in 1967 in Bluff Creek, California. This film supposedly recorded a Bigfoot walking through the forests. Much evidence found have been confirmed to be hoaxes such as fake footprints, and hair samples have been proven by DNA analysis to belong to animals such as dogs or bears. One popular theory is that if it does exist, it could be an undiscovered primate, possibly a descendant of Gigantopithecus, which was a species of large ape that is extinct. However, that doesn’t stop Bigfoot from becoming a huge icon in modern times where its depicted in much of modern media and literature and has even sparked many cryptozoology passions in many people.
Honourable Mention: Alien
Aliens have long been at the forefront of many peoples minds when they think of crypto creatures, however we felt that while there are countless rumours, sightings and claimed evidence for aliens, it did not really fall under a crypto creature. Nevertheless, it is a being surrounded in conspiracy and mystery which is one of the founding concepts of this field of study. Alien sightings and interactions have been recorded since the late 1940s and have spawned many theories and conspiracies for evidence of aliens, that to this day, thousands claim each year. You could argue that we may see an alien before we see any of the other creatures on this list.
Other Contenders
Kraken – A giant sea monster resembling a squid or octopus that is said to dwell off the coasts of Scandinavian countries.
Bunyip – A mythical creature from Australian Aboriginal folklore, said be an evil spirit that lurks in swamps and billabongs.
Ogopogo – A serpentine lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake, British Columbia, Canada.