About

About the Author

I'm a college sophomore and longtime monster enthusiast.  I'm interested in zoology, paleontology, cryptozoology, and anything involving animals.  I started this blog in eighth grade, and soon forgot about it completely.  After five years, I've rediscovered BeastPedia and resumed writing, adding new posts about mysterious creatures.

About Classification

This blog is primarily devoted to cryptozoology-- the study of undiscovered animals.  But not all of this site's creatures are cryptids.  Confused?  Check out the classifications below.

• Cryptids are animals unknown to modern science.  They're not magical or mythical, but their existence has yet to be proven.  Some cryptids have turned out to be real-- like the gorilla and the okapi.  Others, like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, remain unverified.
• Mythical beasts come from ancient legend.  They're not real, and often have supernatural powers-- a feature lacking in true cryptids.  Some mythical beasts, though, are based on real animals.  For example, giant squid sightings inspired tales of the Kraken.
• Fearsome critters are neither cryptids nor mythic beasts.  They are animals of folklore, originating in the tall tales of nineteenth-century lumberjacks.  Often, they were never meant to be taken seriously-- only to impress and amuse when described around the campfire.
• Yokai are creatures of Japanese legend, including spirits and monsters of many kinds.  Some of these are harmless and comical, while others exist to terrify.  Most beasts of Japan are considered yokai -- unless suspected to be cryptids.
• A hoax is a creature invented to deceive.  All evidence for these animals is faked-- often by some trickster hoping for attention.  A good example is the Jackalope, a taxidermied rabbit/pronghorn hybrid.