12 Incredible Animals That Scientists Initially Didn’t Believe Were Real

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The animal kingdom is filled with extraordinary creatures that often defy logic and expectation. Throughout history, many animals have left scientists scratching their heads, questioning the reality of these fantastical beings.

Cryptotourism has emerged among travelers; Forbes reports that the International Cryptozoology Museum generates an estimated $140 million annually in the U.S. Below are twelve creatures that initially baffled science, showcasing their unique features and the awe they inspire.

The Devil Bird

In Sri Lankan folklore, this creature is known as the ulama, a tragic figure believed to be a woman whose child was murdered by her husband. In her despair, she fled into the jungle, ultimately taking her own life. After her death, the gods transformed her into a devil bird, cursed to emit a haunting, human-like wail.

It wasn’t until 1950 that ornithologist George Morton Henry, the author of the definitive volume on Sri Lankan birds, classified this creature as the sport-bellied eagle owl, according to Eberhart. This predatory bird, found in South Asia, measures about 21 inches long and is characterized by heart-shaped spots and striking black and white ear tufts, giving it an eerily captivating appearance.

Okapi

As per the Encyclopaedia of Cryptozoology, the Okapi was described as a hybrid between a zebra and a mule when Sir Henry Hamilton Johnston, a British explorer and naturalist, first encountered the animal in 1900. It’s similar in appearance to a deer, with striped hindquarters like a zebra, and walks with a giraffe’s rolling gait.

According to Okapiconservation.org, this solitary, elusive creature is now classified as endangered, with a population of about 20,000 worldwide due to habitat loss and hunting. The National Geographic reports that it is native only to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa.

Axolotl

The axolotl is a near-mythical creature native to Mexico that inspired the Aztecs, who named it after Xolotl, their god of lightning and death. It looks like a smiling water dragon with external gills on each side of its head. As per National Geographic, this critically endangered animal has been extensively studied for its regenerative abilities, including the potential for limb, heart, spinal cord, and parts of their brains without permanent scarring.

They’re Indigenous to the Xochomilco network of lakes around Mexico City, whose water has been polluted due to urbanization, thus endangering this species.

Komodo Dragon

The Komodo dragons are native to the island of Komodo in Indonesia. These venomous lizards can grow up to 10 feet and attain a weight of about 300 pounds. They were classified as cryptids until 1910, when Lieutenant Steyn Van Hansbroek captured and killed one.

Not satisfied with a dead specimen, explorer W. Douglas Burden traveled to Indonesia and returned with two live Komodo dragons, which were put on display at the Bronx Zoo in New York City, as reported by ScIU(an Indiana University Blog).

Gorilla

The gorilla’s existence was a subject of intense debate throughout the 19th century, reflecting the wider discussion regarding race and evolution. Although gorillas were mentioned in ancient Greek texts from explorer Hanno, it wasn’t until the mid-1800s that they came to be recognized as distinct species.

In 1847, Thomas Savage found gorilla bones. A decade later, anthropologist Paul du Chaillu hunted live gorillas for specimens. The mountain gorilla, however, remained a cryptid until 1902 when German captain Robert Von Berigne identified one, reports ScIU.

Giant Squid

The Giant Squid is a mythical creature that has haunted sailors for centuries, with tales of monstrous sea creatures attacking ships. It wasn’t until 2004 that Japanese researchers captured the first live footage of a giant squid in its natural habitat off the coast of Japan, as per BBC Science Focus.

These elusive creatures can grow up to 43 feet long and weigh over a ton, making them one of the largest invertebrates on Earth. Despite their size, very little is known about these mysterious creatures due to their deep-sea habitats and difficulty in capturing them alive.

Hoan Kiem Turtle

The Hoan Kiem Turtle, also known as the Lake Turtle or Sword Lake Turtle, is a legendary cryptid in Vietnam’s Hoan Kiem Lake. According to legend, this elusive creature is over 500 years old and only surfaces once every hundred years.

In Vietnamese culture, it’s considered a symbol of wisdom, longevity, and luck. In recent years, sightings of this rare turtle have become increasingly scarce due to pollution and human activity in its habitat. Conservation efforts are being made to protect this unique species from extinction.

Kangaroo

Amerigo Vespucci was the first to describe a kangaroo in 1499 while traveling along the southern coast of Australia. His description sounded mythical, as he had described it as a monstrous beast with the head of a fox, a man’s hands, a monkey’s tail, and a bag to carry its young ones.

In 1629, Francisco Pelsaer captured a kangaroo but died on its voyage. ScIU reported that it wasn’t until 1770 that Sir Joseph Banks rediscovered the kangaroo.

Bondegezou

Bondegezou, also known as Dingiso, is legendary among the Moni people of Western Papua New Guinea and referred to it as the “man of the forest.” This marsupial resembles a tree-climbing kangaroo and has a distinctive black-and-white fur pattern.

The first picture was sent to Tim Flannery, an Australian Scientist, in 1980. In 1994, Flannery conducted a wildlife survey of the area and discovered the creature was new to science.

Giant Oarfish

The giant oarfish, also known as the King of Herrings, is believed to be the inspiration behind sea serpent sightings. They have shiny silvery bodies, bright red crests on their heads, and toothless mouths to suck up and filter small fish. They can grow up to 30 feet long and weigh up to 660 pounds. They also have a distinctively long dorsal fin that resembles an oar, as reported by Britannica.

These elusive creatures are rarely seen alive in their natural habitat due to their depth of 1,000-3,000 feet below sea level. In October 2013, Marine Scientists found two oarfish off the coast of South California, which provided an opportunity to study these creatures, according to the New York Times.

The Duck-Billed Platypus

The Duck-Billed Platypus is a semi-aquatic, fur-covered, web-footed mammal that lays eggs in Australia. Animal Diversity Web(ADW) reports that the platypus is approximately 2 feet long and weighs 3.5 pounds.

As per How Stuff Works, English naturalists first obtained its carcass from New South Wales Governor John Hunter in 1799 for study, but they initially thought it was a hoax. Its mix of mammalian, avian, and reptilian traits confused scientists.

Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil is a stocky animal with brownish-black fur, white throaty patches, a pink snout, and a big, powerful head and jaw that enable it to gnaw on dead carcasses. Insects, larvae, snakes, and vegetation are also parts of its diet. According to National Geographic, the Tasmanian devil is the largest living carnivorous marsupial on Earth and is a size relative to a 6-foot man.

Its fierce temperament and blood-curdling screams first captured the attention of early European settlers in Australia. They are currently an endangered species due to a contagious cancer in the mid-1990s called Devil Facial Tumor Disease that shrank their population from 140,000 to 20,000, as reported by National Geographic.

Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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