List of cryptids

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{{Paranormal}}

Cryptids are animals or other beings that cryptozoologists believe may exist somewhere in the wild, but whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science. Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience and has been widely critiqued by scientists.Mullis (2021: 185): "Eschewing the rigors of science, cryptozoologists publish for a popular audience rather than for experts resulting in the practice itself frequently being derided as a pseudoscience."Loxton & Prothero (2013: 332): "Whatever the romantic appeal of monster mysteries, cryptozoology as it exists today is unquestionably a pseudoscience." Loxton & Prothero (2013: 320): "Cryptozoology has a reputation of being part of a general pseudoscientific fringe—just one more facet of paranormal belief." (Both quotes from Donald Prothero)Church (2009: 251–252): "Cryptozoology has acquired a bad reputation as a pseudoscience [...] Until detailed, methodical research becomes standard practice among cryptozoologists, the field will remain disrespected by more traditional biologists and zoologists."Roesch & Moore (2002: 71–78): "Pointing to this rampant speculation and ignorance of established scientific theories in cryptozoology, as well as the field's poor record of success and its reliance on unsystematic, anecdotal evidence, many scientists and skeptics classify cryptozoology as a pseudoscience." The subculture is regularly criticized for reliance on anecdotal information{{cite news |last1=Shermer |first1=Michael |author1-link=Michael Shermer |title=Show Me the Body |url=https://michaelshermer.com/sciam-columns/show-me-the-body/ |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Scientific American |date=2 May 2003 |language=en}} and because in the course of investigating animals that most scientists believe are unlikely to have existed, cryptozoologists do not follow the scientific method.{{cite book |last1=Dash |first1=Mike |author1-link=Mike Dash |title=Borderlands |date=2000 |publisher=The Overlook Press |isbn=978-0-87951-724-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9UtPwAACAAJ |language=en}} Many scientists have criticized the plausibility of cryptids due to lack of physical evidence,Simpson, George Gaylord (1984). "Mammals and Cryptozoology". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. 128, No. 1 (Mar. 30, 1984), pp. 1–19. American Philosophical Society. likely misidentifications{{Cite web |last=Cassella |first=Carly |date=2023-01-31 |title=Bigfoot Has a Very Simple Explanation, Scientist Says |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/bigfoot-has-a-very-simple-explanation-scientist-says |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=ScienceAlert |language=en-US}} and misinterpretation of stories from folklore.Loxton & Prothero (2013: 31-32) While biologists regularly identify new species following established scientific methodology, cryptozoologists focus on entities mentioned in the folklore record and rumor.