Lyle Blackburn’s Top 10 Cryptids
Posted by: Lyle Blackburn on October 13th, 2013
Cryptozoology, which is defined as “the study of unknown animals,” includes a vast menagerie of creatures which are said to exist, but cannot be proven. Some of these creatures – known as cryptids – are well known to the general public and some are not. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and Chupacabra are undoubtedly the most famous examples, but they are not the only beasts which lurk in the shadows of our reality.
Below is a list of cryptids which I feel are the most popular and recognizable.
10) Jersey Devil
9) Beast of Exmoor
8) thylacine/Tasmanian tiger
7) Mokele-mbembe
6) Lizard Man
Refer to my book Lizard Man: The True Story of the Bishopville Monster for more info.
5) Mothman
Refer to my good friend and colleague Ken Gerhard’s book Encounters with Flying Humanoids: Mothman, Manbirds, Gargoyles & Other Winged Beasts for more info.
4) Chupacabra
3) Yeti – a.k.a. Abominable Snowman
2) Loch Ness Monster
And
1) Bigfoot
Read about each cryptid on the Monstro Bizarro blog here.
About Lyle Blackburn
Lyle Blackburn’s research and writing on the subject of legendary creatures and unexplained phenomenon has been widely recognized as some of the best in the field of cryptozoology. His previous books, including The Beast of Boggy Creek and Momo: The Strange Case of the Missouri Monster, offer a balanced view of the subjects while delivering gripping accounts of real-life mysteries.
Lyle is a frequent guest on radio programs such as Coast To Coast AM, and has appeared on television shows such as Monsters and Mysteries in America, Finding Bigfoot, and Strange Evidence. Lyle has also been featured in several award-winning documentary films, including Boggy Creek Monster and The Mothman of Point Pleasant.
For more information, visit Lyle's website at: www.lyleblackburn.com
Your #8 entry, the Thylacine is not a cryptid but a well known actual marsupial predator with skeletons, pelts and zoo footage readily available. Not at all a cryptid waiting to be recognized by science at large. A good #8 replacement would be the Orang pendek.
A top ten list if animals not quite yet extinct with sightings still occurring could be;
10. Megalodon
9. Mammoth
8. Moa
7. Steller’s Sea Cow
6. Passenger Pigeon (variant)
5. Caribbean Monk Seal
4. Honshu wolf
3. Zanzibar Leopard
2. Ivory-billed Woodpecker
1. Thaylacine
I would add Ropen and Wolfman/werewolf/. I am not too into the goat sucker. The canines they have been studied don’t seem to match the monster initially reported, upright, glowing eyes, etc. so not sure what is going on there. And the thylacine could get bumped out for the reason pointed out.
The Ropen, in New Guinea, Destination Truth got some footage of a glowing airborne animal at night, which is a reported characteristic of that cryptid. New Guinea has no air traffic at night, its all grounded. That right there really needs to be looked at more.
The reports of the dogman, or whatever, I find interesting. Yep, that footage that was so hair raising turned out to be a hoax but there have been other, older sightings, including in other states like GA that makes one question what is being seen.