Buzz
By now, Mytour readers are likely well-acquainted with cryptids. These enigmatic beings, unverified by scientific evidence, exist on the boundary of human perception and folklore, often evolving into legendary figures through a mix of ancient tales and contemporary encounters. From the bloodthirsty phantoms of Indonesia to the shy, humanoid creatures of Appalachia, no one is entirely safe from the mysteries lurking in the shadows—and nowhere is darker than the winding, subterranean labyrinths beneath us. Here are ten compelling reasons to avoid venturing underground.
10. Tsuchinoko
Nestled in the remote mountain ranges of Western Japan, the Tsuchinoko is a legendary figure rooted in Japanese folklore. This stout, snake-like creature, measuring several feet long (approximately one meter), is said to inhabit the damp caves of Shikoku and Honshu. Typically spotted near rivers and streams weaving through the mountains, most encounters are fleeting, as the Tsuchinoko quickly retreats into the watery abyss.
Descriptions differ, but most accounts highlight similar traits: large, plate-like scales, a black tongue, small horns on its head, the ability to jump over a meter in a single bound, and, most peculiarly, a range of vocal sounds—from mouse-like squeaks to imitations of human speech. Adding to its mystique, the Tsuchinoko is said to possess venomous fangs capable of spitting venom at threats.
The town of Mitaka reportedly captured one, but without any efforts to confirm its legitimacy, it remains classified as a cryptid for now.
9. Cherufe
Legend describes the Cherufe as a fiery, rock-like creature inhabiting Chilean volcanoes. Standing twelve feet tall with a vaguely reptilian humanoid form, this mythical being is thought to be a real entity adapted to survive the extreme heat of volcanic environments, akin to the tubeworms found near underwater volcanic vents, thriving in temperatures exceeding 750 degrees Fahrenheit (400 C).
Some speculate that while the Cherufe cryptid doesn’t reside within volcanoes, it inhabits nearby volcanic areas, leading to its association with the mythical creature. According to Mapuche legends, the Cherufe was believed to cause volcanic eruptions and could only be appeased through the sacrifice of a virgin.
8. Grootslang
In South Africa’s Northern Cape province lies the Richtersveld, a barren, mountainous desert. Hidden within this expansive wilderness is a place locals call the Bottomless Pit—an enormous, uncharted cave system. Legend has it that a cryptid known as the Grootslang emerges from this cave at night, luring its prey back to its den. Resembling a colossal elephant with a serpent’s tail, the Grootslang is said to devour intruders and vigilantly protect a hoard of countless diamonds and precious gems.
The most famous tale of the Grootslang involves British explorer Peter Grayson. In 1917, drawn by rumors of diamonds in the Bottomless Pit, Grayson led a small expedition to locate the cave. Tragedy befell the group: two men were killed by a lion, one was bitten by a venomous snake, and another fell ill. The remaining two members carried the sick man back to the nearest town, leaving Grayson to continue alone. He vanished without a trace, and locals believe he met his end at the hands—or jaws—of the Grootslang.
Recent accounts of the creature suggest it might be an enormous python—eyewitnesses describe seeing a snake-like animal, but one measuring an astonishing 50 feet (15 meters) in length. Another report mentions the discovery of mysterious footprints, a meter wide, which abruptly vanished near a riverbank.
7. J’ba Fofi
Tales of giant spiders span the globe, but the most renowned is the J’ba Fofi, a colossal arachnid said to inhabit the depths of the African Congo. The Goliath spider, with a leg span of 14 inches (35.5 cm), is the largest known spider, enough to unsettle even the bravest. However, the J’ba Fofi is rumored to dwarf this, boasting a leg span of four feet (122 cm) in most accounts, and up to eight feet in some reports.
According to a indigenous pygmy tribe in the region, these giant spiders weave large, circular webs at ground level, lying in wait at the center to capture birds, rodents, and even forest antelope. Other tales describe the spiders digging burrows with hinged trapdoors, similar to Ctenizidae spiders. These stories aren’t confined to one area—similar accounts have emerged from tribes in Uganda to the east and the Central African Republic to the north.
Stories of enormous spider cryptids extend beyond Africa; in 2011, filmmaker Richard Terry heard accounts of massive spiders, measuring four feet wide, inhabiting deep burrows in the Amazon rainforest.
6. Reptilians
According to David Icke, reptilians are shape-shifting, extraterrestrial lizard-humanoids who have infiltrated the highest echelons of government, masquerading as global leaders. Figures like Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have all been accused of being reptilians.
Reptilians, capable of morphing into human form, are also believed by conspiracy theorists to maintain an extensive underground society. A 1995 account from a witness in Missouri describes an encounter with a 7-foot-tall creature while exploring caves: “This being, clearly not human, had brown, scaly skin, a human-like face with a flat nose, but lacked ears or hair. It sported a long, tapering tail and wore a metallic gold outfit with pants and shoes.”
Since then, others have reported encountering bizarre, reptilian beings in caves. One individual allegedly captured a photograph of such a creature.
5. Melon Heads
In the rural regions of Ohio and Michigan, tales persist of small, large-headed creatures known as Melon Heads ambushing people from the forests. Legend has it that these beings were once orphans suffering from hydrocephalus, a condition causing fluid accumulation in the skull, who resided in an asylum.
After escaping the asylum, killing their doctor, or resorting to cannibalism following a fire, the children allegedly became wild and retreated to underground caves in the woods. Intriguingly, similar accounts have emerged from various states, each tied to a version of the asylum story. Numerous witnesses claim to have been assaulted by groups of small, deformed creatures with oversized heads.
4. Minhocão
The minhocão, a colossal earthworm said to inhabit the Amazon rainforest, is far from ordinary. Described as nearly 75 feet (23 meters) long, it dwarfs the carnivorous worms from the Tremors movies. This massive creature allegedly tunnels through the ground, attacking from beneath and leaving enormous holes behind. Collapsed homes and vanished livestock have often been attributed to its destructive path.
Cryptozoologist Karl Shuker suggests the minhocão, if real, might be a caecilian rather than an earthworm. Caecilians are worm-like amphibians with eyes and teeth. Eyewitnesses describe the minhocão as having large teeth, scaly black skin, and two tentacles on its head. Despite these accounts, no sightings have been reported in over a century, leading many to believe this subterranean giant, if it ever existed, is now extinct.
3. Tatzelwurm
The Tatzelwurm, a renowned European cryptid, resembles a dragon with a spiked back and a feline-like head. Its first recorded sighting dates back to 1779, when a man allegedly died of a heart attack after the creature startled him (though how he recounted the incident remains a mystery).
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, numerous sightings described the Tatzelwurm as a 7-foot (2-meter) long beast with sharp teeth, a short neck, and a stubby tail. Some even claimed to have been bitten by it. In Germany, it’s called the stollenwurm, or “hole-dwelling worm,” as it’s said to hibernate in mountain caves during winter.
The latest sighting occurred in 2009 near the Swiss-Italian border, where a research assistant reported seeing the creature sprinting on two legs like a “prehistoric velociraptor.” Could it be real? What’s your take?
2. Ahool
Staying on the subject of enormous bat-like cryptids, the Ahool deserves mention. Sighted multiple times in Java’s rainforests, this creature boasts a 10-foot (3-meter) wingspan and large claws on its forelimbs. First documented in 1925 by naturalist Dr. Ernest Bartels, the Ahool was observed emerging from behind a waterfall at dusk. Its name derives from its unique call, a prolonged “Ahoooool,” heard as it soared above.
Two years later, Bartels encountered the creature again and organized a search party to track it down. While some speculate the Ahool is a large owl, eyewitnesses insist it resembles a bat, not a bird. Other theories propose it could be a flying primate or even a surviving pterosaur hidden within the dense, remote jungles of Indonesia.
1. Olitiau
The Olitiau, often referred to as a “cave demon,” is a massive bat with a 12-foot (-meter) wingspan, a black body, crimson wings, and 2-inch (5 cm) serrated teeth. Tales of this creature originate from local tribes in Cameroon’s forests, but the first Western account came from biologist Ivan T. Sanderson in 1932. While studying Hammer-headed fruit bats, Sanderson was attacked by an enormous bat with wings four times larger than those of a Hammer-headed bat.
Upon sharing his experience with his native guides, they identified the creature as the Olitiau, named after a ceremonial mask resembling a demon. The name combines “ole” and “ntya.” The guides explained that the Olitiau dwelled in nearby caves, emerging at night to hunt. No further sightings have been reported since.
