cryptids
Legendary hidden beasts
Cryptids are creatures whose existence is claimed but not scientifically verified—Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the chupacabra.
The term comes from cryptozoology, the study of such alleged animals.
Cryptids occupy a space between folklore and zoology, taken seriously by believers but dismissed by mainstream science: The show investigates cryptids reported across Appalachia.
Winged humanoid cryptid
- chupacabraFolklore's livestock-draining monster
- yetiMythical Himalayan ape-man
- thunderbirdSpirit bird causing tempests
- bunyipAboriginal folklore water creature
Unrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- unicornMythical one-horned horse
- griffinLegendary eagle-lion hybrid
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
kraken · mermaid · basilisk · manticore · thunderbird · kelpie · selkie · banshee
Instance of perceiving something
- footprintMark from stepping
- eyewitnessOne who saw events
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
evidence · debunked · specimen · encounter · track · footage · sonar · documentary
Not yet found
- unverifiedNot yet proven true
- hiddenKept out of sight
- unknownNot yet discovered
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
undetectable · untraceable · unseen · fleeting · remote · wilderness · nocturnal · reclusive
Not yet clarified
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
- eerieDisturbingly strange
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
enigma · strange · bizarre · supernatural · uncanny · otherworldly · spooky · unsettling
Unverified traditional tale
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- oral-historyRecorded firsthand accounts
superstition · indigenous · local · tradition · belief · warning · tribal · regional
mothman
Winged humanoid cryptid
- chupacabraFolklore's livestock-draining monster
- yetiMythical Himalayan ape-man
- thunderbirdSpirit bird causing tempests
chimera
Unrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- unicornMythical one-horned horse
- griffinLegendary eagle-lion hybrid
dragon · kraken · mermaid · basilisk · manticore · thunderbird · kelpie · selkie · banshee · roc
sighting
Instance of perceiving something
- footprintMark from stepping
- eyewitnessOne who saw events
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
expedition · evidence · debunked · specimen · encounter · track · footage · sonar · expedition · documentary
undiscovered
Not yet found
- unverifiedNot yet proven true
- hiddenKept out of sight
- unknownNot yet discovered
unconfirmed · undetectable · untraceable · unseen · fleeting · remote · wilderness · nocturnal · reclusive · habitat
unexplained
Not yet clarified
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
- eerieDisturbingly strange
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
anomaly · enigma · strange · bizarre · supernatural · uncanny · otherworldly · spooky · unsettling · inexplicable
legend
Unverified traditional tale
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
oral-history · superstition · indigenous · local · tradition · belief · warning · tribal · regional · rural
- American folklorePaul Bunyan, tall tales, folk heroes, John Henry, folk narratives
- Local Folklorefolk tales, myths, legends, urban legends, ghost stories
- mythical beingsdragons, dragon, unicorns, unicorn, phoenix
- hidden animalsambush predators, trapdoor spiders, stick insects, leaf insects, chameleons
- modern mythsurban legends, modern folklore, creepypasta, ghost stories, Bigfoot
- creaturesanimals, animal, mammals, mammal, birds
- cryptic messageObscure, puzzling communication
- cryptic crosswordGrid solved through wordplay
- cryptic cluePuzzle hint with misdirection
- cryptic symbolsObscure meaningful marks
- cryptic behaviorDeliberately obscure actions
- cryptic languageDeliberately unclear expression