Cryptid Case Files: The Lair of Mythics Guide to Cryptozoology
Welcome to the Case Files
Some mysteries are carved into ancient legend. Others leave fresh claw marks, muddy prints, or ripples in the water.
Here at Lair of Mythics, we collect them all — the believable, the bizarre, and the “no way that’s real… right?” The Cryptid Case Files are our not-so-secret archive: part folklore study, part field notes, part “hold on, did you hear that?”
Every file digs deep — not just into sightings, but also into the cultural weight and lingering questions behind each creature. Half the fun? Deciding whether the next story makes you a believer… or just more careful about what’s moving in the dark.
The File Cabinet: Explore by Category
Browse by Species (Alphabetical Index)
Looking for a specific creature rather than a category? Explore our complete alphabetical index of cryptid species, linking directly to dedicated case files and hub pages.
Bigfoot
The heavyweight champions of hide-and-seek. From the Pacific Northwest’s Sasquatch to the snowy Himalayan Yeti, the swamp-stalking Skunk Ape, and Australia’s elusive Yowie, towering wildmen have been leaving footprints—and questions—for centuries.
Start with our Bigfoot Hub overview to meet the creature at the heart of North America’s legend, then dive into the case files below:
Bigfoot Case Files:
- Kidnapped By Bigfoot
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Ape Canyon Incident
- Patterson–Gimlin Film Breakdown
- Ruby Creek Incident
- Barge Workers Sightings
- Roosevelt & Bauman Bigfoot Encounter
- William Roe Encounter
- Marble Mountain Footage
- Snohomish Screams
- The Whitehall Sightings
- Scariest Bigfoot Encounters of All Time
- Police Encounters with Bigfoot
Bigfoot Kin:
Bigfoot Research & Analysis:
- Juvenile Bigfoot: Ecology, Behavior & Mystery
- Most Famous Bigfoot Tracks & Casts
- Bigfoot Field Guide: Tracks, Calls & Tech
- Native American Bigfoot Legends
- Famous Bigfoot Hoaxes and Misidentifications
- Government Files & Bigfoot
- How Bigfoot Became Americas Favorite Monster
- What Would Prove Bigfoot Exists?
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Sightings By Region
Cryptid Beasts
Predators. Prowlers. Land-based nightmares. These are the shadow-stalking creatures said to roam forests, deserts, and lonely backroads — leaving fear, folklore, and the occasional footprint behind. Start with our Cryptid Beasts Archive to explore the theories, biology, and predator behavior behind these legends, then dive into the case files below to meet the hunters that supposedly lurk just beyond the treeline.
Example Cases:
- Chupacabra
- Ozark Howler
- Gumberoo
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Beast of Exmoor
- Sheepsquatch
- Nandi Bear
- Dobhar-chú
- Rougarou
- Mongolian Death Worm
Coming Soon:
- Dogman
- Beast of Bray Road
- Hellhound / Black Shuck
Lake Monsters
Legends ripple beneath the surface. Whether they’re serpents, prehistoric throwbacks, or something stranger, these aquatic enigmas have a way of surfacing just long enough to keep the stories alive. Begin with our Lake Monsters Overview to explore the sightings, theories, hoaxes, and modern sonar evidence that shaped these watery legends, then dive into the case files below to uncover the creatures said to lurk in the depths.
Example Cases:
Related Research:
- Lake Monster Evidence: Sonar, Sightings & Misidentifications
- 10 Lake Monsters From Around the World
- The Giant Eel Theory & Scientific Explanations
- Do Sonar Hits Really Show Lake Monsters?
- Why Lakes Breed Legends
- Lake Monster Hoaxes & Exposed Fakes
Winged Terrors
From ancient sky-serpents to modern winged humanoids, these aerial anomalies dominate the skies—and often the nightmares—of those who spot them. Begin with our Winged Terrors Overview to explore the legends, sightings, and folklore behind these airborne cryptids, then dive into the case files below to meet the creatures said to rule the skies.
Example Cases:
Coming Soon:
- Batsquatch
- Owlman of Mawnan
- Van Meter Visitor
Related Research:
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Winged Cryptid Sightings & Misidentifications (Birds, Planes & Phenomena)
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Winged Legends Around the World: Garuda, Firebirds & Sky Serpents
The Unclassified
The oddballs. The misfits. The creatures that refuse to sit in any tidy category. From wand-waving frog-men to glowing-eyed humanoids on lonely roads, these cases are as fascinating as they are unsettling. Start with our Unclassified Cryptids Overview to explore what puts these beings into their own category, then dive into the case files—and theories—below.
Example Cases:
- The Loveland Frogman
- The Montauk Monster
- The Fresno Nightcrawlers
- The Flatwoods Monster
- The Dover Demon
- The Squonk
Coming Soon:
- The Enfield Horror
- Palmyra Wolves
- Martinsburg Monster
Related Research:
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What Are Unclassified Cryptids? The creatures that defy explanation
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Top 5 Traits of Unclassified Cryptids (and Why They Defy Labels)
More from the Archives:
Sometimes the rarest cryptids don’t fit any category at all. Discover six forgotten legends — from California’s mountain salamander to West Virginia’s Vegetable Man — in Cryptids You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Cryptids by Region
Some mysteries aren’t global — they belong to specific valleys, forests, coastlines, or forgotten backroads. These regional case files explore the creatures tied to real places, the sightings that shaped local folklore, and the patterns that emerge when legends cluster around a single area.
Featured Regional Files:
• SF Bay Area Cryptids
• Northern California Cryptids
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Cryptids of the Deep South
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Cryptids of the Midwest
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Cryptids of the Appalachians
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Cryptids of the Desert Southwest
Cryptid Case Files FAQ
Q: What is a cryptid case file?
A: A focused dossier of sightings, history, and analysis.
Q: Are cryptids real?
A: Some proved to be — others remain legend.
Q: Which cryptid is reported the most?
A: Bigfoot still leads the pack.
Q: How can I submit a sighting?
A: Send it in — your encounter could become our next case.