Hunting Cryptids ‘Round the World: Mexico and Latin America Pt 2

by Jodie Bares

Two weeks ago, we began our journey into the cryptids and unknowns rooted in Mexican and Latin American culture.  This week we will continue our search for the unknown and a few more creatures looking in the jungles and the shadows...

It is said that there is a Bigfoot type creature lurking in Mexico.  Called The Sisimite (also referred to as “The Olmec Ape”), it has been reported in three Mexican states: Campeche, Chiapas and Quintana Roo, which is known to be covered in lush jungle. Its nickname comes from an artifact that was found during an archaeological dig at an Olmec site, that carbondatedback approximately two-thousand years.  Mexico Unexplained describes this creature with the following, “The Sisimite has been described as a hairy ape-like creature, much larger than a human, with the face of a human.  It has only 4 fingers and no thumbs, and, in some cases, it has been described as having backwards-facing feet. Sisimites walk upright, like humans.  They let out high-pitched screams but have no language.  They are generally regarded as being hostile to humans and have been accused of kidnapping people. Their apelike fur has been described as ranging from a chestnut color to pitch black.  They have no protruding ears and their noses are flat…”

An artist’s depiction of El Sisimite

In Mexico, there have been reports of the unearthing of giant bones.  This gives reason to believe that a race of giants once roamed Mexico. Recently, I posted an article about the Annunaki and, in that article, I talked about how eventually they broke away from the Middle East and some settled in Central America.  Some think that the giant bones are in correlation to the story. Some believe these are bones of The Watchers/Nephilim. Granted, this is just speculation, and the giants that roamed Mexico is just rumor and folklore as of now.

So, were there giants in Mexico?

When we think of fairies, we don’t normally picture them residing in Central America; we think of Great Britain and Ireland.  But indeed, there are said to be fairies south of the border.  There are even reports of leprechaun-like creatures that appear in many of the stories from the Aztecs.  They have passed down the tales of little creatures called The Alux, also called The Chaneque, which translates to “those who inhabit dangerous places.”  There have even been stone artifacts found when excavating Aztec sites depicting a race of wee folk.  So,what did these things look like?  Mexico Unexplained describes them as: “They are generally described as fully human but in smaller form, sometimes standing no more than two feet tall and sometimes clothed.  They tend to have larger eyes, which are sometimes described as a glowing red, and their noses are larger than a normal human’s.  Their ears are pointed, much like those of European elves.  Often, they are said to wear straw hats and cloth shoes, and they carry bags made of cloth or agave cactus fiber, their “bag of tricks,” so to speak.  In some legends, the alux or chaneque carry around slingshots to use in hunting or to shoot stones at disagreeable humans.  Other stories of this creature give it a less friendly and more diabolical appearance.  In some recent sightings in Mexico, the creature has been depicted as a hairless, almost alien-looking humanoid with a large forehead, big black eyes and claws on its feet and hands.  In some legends, the creature is said to have backwards-facing feet and is covered in fur…”  They are also thought to be shapeshifters.  There have been numerous sightings that have been reported as recently as 2005.

So, were there giants in Mexico?

Finally, before we close the book on Mexico and Latin America, there are reports of a mysterious water-dwelling dog/monster that has been likened to The Loch Ness Monster.  Called The Ahuízotl, it is said to look like a normal-sized dog with rounded ears, its fur is either black, grey, or brown, lives in southern Mexico, and has a tail that they can use as a hand.  It is said that the creature is sighted just before a major flood happens.  Some think that this is a creature that survived the Ice Age, but others attribute the sightings to a river otter or opossum.  As it stands now, the creature lives on through legend, but scientist Dr. Matthew McDavitt has taken on the task of exploring more into this alleged creature and its habitation

The Ahuízotl “water dog” carving

I hope you have enjoyed our look at Mexico and Central America and some of the great mysteries they have to offer.  There are so many more things to talk about, but alas, not enough time to discuss everything.  The website, Mexico Unexplained, has a great many topics that range from religious figure sighting (The Virgin of Guadalupe) to strange creatures, UFO accounts, and many other interesting topics including the few cryptids that I have discussed here.  You can check out their website at mexicounexplained.com. For now, this weary traveler into the unknown is going on a hiatus from peeling back the mysteries of the unknown in various countries and regions.  I will still be blogging here with a myriad of different posts, so keep an eye out for them in the coming weeks.  Until then, as I always close these Hunting Cryptids posts, 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/.