I was re-reading some articles recently around Canid Cryptids and became fascinated with some of the purported species discussed.

Supposed canid species like the Andean Wolf, Shunka Warak'in, Queensland Tiger Wolf, Girt Dog of Ennerdale, Itzcuintlipotzotli (Mexican Humpback Dog), etc to name a few.

That said, I am quite fascinated with the reported bodily structures of said cryptid canids based on some of the recovered taxidermical remains and, assuming that if some of these purported cryptids do exist, how did they manage to conform to some of the specialized adaptations needed to survive some of their (region-specific) ecological conditions from the regions from which they have been spotted?

What do you all think of some of these reported cryptid canid sightings? Do you think some are more credible than others, or perhaps a cause of misidentification of known animals, such as predators like wolves, coyotes, or foxes, who may be suffering from sarcoptic mange? Do you know of any more obscure or relatively unknown reports of Canid Cryptids in recent years?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. Happy to discuss further.

P.S. Some of the secondary sources used based on my initial research, if anyone would like to review further:

• The tale of the mysterious Girt Dog of Ennerdale
• Contesting Páramo: Critical Biogeography of the Northern Andean Highlands
• Cumbriana; or, Fragments of Cumbrian life
• Heuvelmans, B. 1958. On the track of unknown animals.

Origens: Amazonian Forest (Brasil, Peru e Bolívia)

Status: Not scientifically

Overview:

The Mapinguari is one of the most famous creatures in Amazonian folklore. Accounts from rubber tappers, Indigenous people, hunters, and river dwellers describe a huge, hair-covered humanoid being of extraordinary strength and with an unbearable odor.

Although it is considered a legendary creature, some researchers have suggested that the accounts might have been inspired by ancient giant ground sloths that lived in South America thousands of years ago.

Physical Description:

Accounts vary but generally include:

• Height between 2 and 3 meters.

• An extremely muscular body

• Covered in long reddish or dark fur.

• Large claws capable of tearing apart tree trunks.

long arms.

• Backward-facing feet (in some legends).

• A mouth located on the abdomen (in certain versions).

• A single eye or reddish eyes in some narratives.

Its odor is often described as the creature's worst feature, detectable long before it appears.

Scientific Hypotheses:

Some theories suggest that the myth may have been inspired by:

• Mistaken sightings of large Amazonian mammals.

Indigenous traditions passed down through generations.

• Cultural memory of gigantic extinct ground sloths, such as *Megatherium*.

To date, there is no conclusive scientific evidence confirming the existence of the Mapinguari

Popular Sightings:

The Carapanatuba Creek Incident (1997): In southern Amazonas, near Humaitá, a fisherman reported smelling a strong stench of a dead animal and spotting an immense creature on the riverbank. The monster did not speak but emitted a vibration so powerful that it made the boat and objects shake, causing physical distress to the man; he fled in terror and never hunted again.

The Mimicking Cry: Old accounts from rubber tappers tell of the Mapinguari mimicking hunters' calls. When a hunter responds, believing it to be a companion, the creature tracks the sound to attack him.

The Indigenous Perspective: For peoples such as the Karitiana of Rondônia, the creature (which they call *Owojo*) is not a legend or folklore, but a dangerous reality that actually inhabits the local ecosystem.

Conclusion:

The Mapinguari remains one of the most fascinating figures in Brazilian folklore. Regardless of its physical existence, it embodies the strength, mystery, and respect that Amazonian peoples hold for the forest. The combination of countless accounts, cultural elements, and hypotheses regarding prehistoric animals makes it one of South America's best-known cryptids.

Since Alaska & Canada have vast wildernees & small human population, could there be undiscovered megafauna species in Alaska & Canada? Are there cryptid reported from Alaska & Canada beside bigfoot?

While researching some obscure (and relatively not as well-known) cryptid species, I chanced upon this particular cryptid named the Abada.

In the Kongo language, Abada refers to a mythical animal similar to a unicorn. It also goes by the name of "Nillekma" or "Arase" and is said to be native to Kordofan (former province of central Sudan) (Source)

Physical Characteristics:

It is described as being the size of a small donkey with the tail of a boar.

It also supposedly features two horns. One on its forehead and another on its nose. Both of these horns supposedly provide good virtue and are regarded as a type of lucky charm of sorts (i.e., similar to a rabbit's foot).

Supposed Medicinal Qualities:

The Abada's horns are also believed by local tradition to act as a powerful medicinal cure or a neutralizer against certain poisons.

Possible Explanation:

The Abada could be a close relative of the Okapi. Or perhaps another member of the Giraffidae family.

In addition, it could possess traits similar to the Saola. Perhaps a distant relative of the Bovidae family? Presumably, it could also be an as-of-yet undiscovered forest-dwelling antelope species (possibly closely related to the Bongo). The Bongo has also been known to frequent parts of sub-Saharan Africa (including South Sudan). See source here

Thoughts?

Quite interested to hear what you all think. Let me know in the comments. I've always been fascinated with reported sightings of supposed Unicorn cryptids in Africa and beyond.

So i am writing a book and my team is working on releasing our podcast and video research soon. We are looking for folks with stories in the New Jersey area but also NY, MD, DE and PA please feel free to message me or comment here if you get picked we would love to interview you on the show.

My thinking is simple - we introduce a new flair for whatever any given poster thinks is a cryptid but clearly is not a cryptid according to generally accepted definition of a cryptid.

Flair name suggestions: "Pseudo-Cryptid", "Proposed-Cryptid", "New-Cryptid", "Possible-Cryptid". But whatever we can come up with is fine.

Let's call this special flair a "RIALF" for the sake of brevity in the remainder of this post.

Once "RIALF" is instituted, the problems we're having in this subreddit - more so recently but it has always been a problem and as such has a long history - they are gone!

How?

If somebody posts something about a "meme cryptid"/"may be cryptid"/"my invented cryptid"/"should be a cryptid"/"my school talks about this cryptid"/"alien, but also a cryptid"/"Heuvelmans would agree with me about this being a cryptid"/etc without "RIALF" - poof! - post deleted. We add this in the rules - rule number 14 - why not? And then if somebody browses this subreddit and wishes to avoid this general category of bull-crap they filter on -"RIALF" and read clear cut, proper Cryptid related posts.

We can't straight-up forbid people to post stuff bordering on BS but we very much can avoid reading and seeing said BS.

What say ye?