Ah, Mexico… What’s not to love about it? They have awesome food, they have a rich culture that we are still studying and analyzing to this day, and they even have a whole holiday centered around the love and appreciation for the dead. Mexico has come up a lot lately in the news; especially in the world of the ever-expanding knowledge of the ancient Maya and just how advanced they really were. So, if scientists are now able to peel back the rainforest canopy and find ancient ruins, will it soon be possible they may come across the unknown? I should warn you before we proceed that many of the cryptids we are going to talk about here have their origins in Mexican and Latin American folklore, so even though there have been numerous reported sightings of these creatures over the years, they made indeed be just myth and superstition. With that said, it’s time to open the book on Mexico and explore what they offer in the world of cryptids.
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Being in Latin America, it would be a disgrace if we did not talk about the Chupacabra first. This cryptid started making headlines in 1995, when Puerto Rican shepherds came and found some of their flock drained of blood. Though the sightings began in Puerto Rico, sightings of the Chupacabra have spread all throughout Latin America and even as far as the Southern United States. So, what exactly is this creature known as “the goat sucker?” Reports range from reptilian-like creatures with large fangs to large dingo-type wild dogs. In 2008, there was a video that went viral of a large hairless dingo-type dog that was running down a country road. The maker of the video claimed that this was a real life Chupacabra. One of these creatures’ bodies were found and hair analysis was done that came back inconclusive. So, is the Chupacabra real? Farmers in Latin America certainly believe so.
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| Artist rendering of a female Chupacabra (Dingo form) |
Do you remember in Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban when everyone was so worried that Harry’s tea leaves in his divination class showed a large black dog they referred to as “The Grim?” Well, the creature is not just roaming the woods of Great Britain; they are roaming Latin America as well. Called the Cadejos, they are reported to have two different types: one with black fur and one with white fur. If you see the Cadejo with the white fur, it is said that you will have good luck and that good fortune will follow you. However, if the Cadejo with the black fur comes in contact with you, bad luck will follow.
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| A black and a white Cadejo face off |
Aside from the various species of dog type cryptids that are roaming Latin America, there are also many other unusual creatures masked in mysticism and lore. Here we can find the story of the Nagual. The Nagual is thought to be a shapeshifter or a skinwalker; most report a woman that dabbles in witchcraft can shift into a wolf, puma, or jaguar. The story goes on to say that a person’s birthdate will determine what type of Nagual they will transform into. For example, if a person was born during the date range of a jaguar, they will become a jaguar. Reports of the Nagual date back to the times of the Olmec in Central America; however, their sightings are still being talked about as recently as January 2018 in the United States.
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| Nagual |
Mexico and Latin America in general have a lot of strange creatures that are said to appear in its skies. In the region of Chihuahua, there is said to be a Bat-man that has its denizens on edge. When I said Bat-man, I’m not talking about the legendary DC Comics “Caped Crusader.” No, I mean a huge Mothman-type creature with bat wings, but a more human like body and features covered in fur. Sightings of the “Mexican Man-Bat” started in 2006, but as of 2017, reported sightings are still trickling in from the region.
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| Man-Bat of Mexico |
Since we have been talking extensively on shapeshifting and skinwalking during our adventure thus far, I feel like we should focus our attention on the infamous La Lechuza. Folklore states that La Lechuza is a shapeshifter, most likely an older woman, that turns into a giant owl. Reports range from all over Mexico and Latin America of a giant owl, sometimes described as a barn owl or a snow owl variety, swooping overhead at night. If one ever comes at you as if it’s trying to attack, legends say you need to toss a handful of chile powder and salt at it. If you find yourself without these handy spices, you can also recite a Catholic prayer inciting the Virgin Mary for help. However, the prayer must be recited both forwards and back for it to repel the La Lechuza. You can also hang a rope with seven knots outside your home to show that you respect the La Lechuza’s presence. Sightings of the creature date back to the 1950s although they are still being reported today and have moved northward into the United States.
We are nowhere near done with exploring the cryptids of Mexico and Latin America, but we are going to leave it here for now. Check back in two weeks when the second part of our adventure into the Mexican unknown will continue. Until then, remember to keep your mind and your eyes always open. You never know when you might encounter the unknown...
Works Cited:
Bitto, Robert. “Cryptids and Legendary Creatures Archives.” Mexico Unexplained, mexicounexplained.com/category/cryptids-and-legendary-creatures/.
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