A field guide to cryptids
Bigfoot, Nessie, the Yeti and friends — and what the evidence really shows.
A 'cryptid' is an animal whose existence is claimed or rumoured but not confirmed by science. The study of them, cryptozoology, sits outside mainstream biology — but the creatures themselves are woven deeply into folklore around the world. Here are the most famous.
Bigfoot (Sasquatch)
A large, ape-like creature said to roam the forests of North America. Reports go back generations and include footprints and blurry footage, but no body, bone or specimen has ever been confirmed. Scientists generally regard the evidence as inconclusive at best.
The Loch Ness Monster
'Nessie' is said to live in the deep waters of Loch Ness in Scotland. Famous photographs have been shown to be hoaxes, and sonar surveys have found nothing conclusive — but the legend endures, and the loch keeps its mystery.
The Yeti and others
The Yeti, or 'Abominable Snowman', belongs to the folklore of the Himalayas, much as Bigfoot does to North America. Around the world there are dozens of local cryptids — from lake creatures to winged beings — each reflecting the landscape and stories of its region.