Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience though, and we’re not saying these creatures actually exist. Treat it as fiction or treat it as plausible reality, it’s up to you. What you can’t deny is that it’s fascinating and interesting to know more about monsters that roam the very Earth we do.
1. TREY The Explainer (YouTube): Best Intro Videos for Cryptids and Cryptozoology
Trey Swenton covers cryptozoology, paleontology, zoology, and biology on his excellent YouTube channel in a manner that any average person can understand. Importantly, Trey isn’t a ready believer in myths and tries to assess each claim with a healthy skepticism that newcomers to cryptology will appreciate.
The best videos to start with are from the Cryptid Profile series, where Trey deep dives into one creature at a time. The information in the video is sourced from acclaimed researchers, books, online discussions, and declassified documents, and put together in a simple coherent video. If you want a quick briefing about any cryptid, your first stop should be to check if it’s been featured on Trey’s Cryptid Profile series.
If you like the Cryptid Profile series and are similarly fascinated with dinosaurs, do check out his Paleo Profile series. And the Speculative Evolution series is a fun look at monsters from mythology and popular culture, like the science of dragons, Godzilla, and the anthropology of Game of Thrones. Apart from cryptids and dinosaurs, Trey takes on popular conspiracy-theory topics like extraterrestrials, evolution, mythology, and more in other videos.
2. Monsters Among Us (Podcast): Stories From People Who Saw Cryptids
The myths and legends around cryptids come from humans. It all begins when someone sees or hears something they can’t explain, and then talks about it with others. The story is what matters, and Monsters Among Us is trying to collect them straight from the source.
Host Derek Hayes asks listeners to call in to the show with their own paranormal encounters with monsters and cryptids. Each episode has about three or four stories that include popular cryptids like Mothman and sasquatch as well as little-known unexplainable creatures.
Monsters Among Us is now into its 13th season, with previous seasons having at least 20 episodes each. So there are tons of stories for you to listen to. But given the longevity of the show, it has naturally expanded from just cryptids to all sorts of paranormal encounters like ghosts, unexplainable phenomena, etc.
You can also email or call Monsters Among Us to tell your own story, through a five-minute voicemail or other types of submissions that you’ll find on the official site. Hayes also provides links to things discussed in each episode on the Show Notes of his website.
Listen to Monsters Among Us on any podcast app
3. Malcolm’s Musings (Web): In-Depth Blog Posts and Translations on Cryptozoology
Zoologist Malcolm Smith has authored several books on cryptozoology, including the definitive piece on Australian cryptids. Through his blog, he turns his attention to other monsters from around the world, such as variations of BigFoot, sea serpents, and other strange creatures.
Smith is a polyglot and puts his skills to use in translating articles about cryptids from other languages. Through excerpts from local newspapers in different countries, dispatches and journals, and foreign language books, he has amassed an enviable section of eyewitness accounts and descriptions of cryptids you won’t find on other parts of the internet. Apart from translations, he also writes expert articles on known cryptids through meticulous research from different sources.
The best place to start reading is the helpful index to the site. Smith has broken his collection into translations, classic cases, alien big cats, sea serpents (as well as lake monsters), miscellaneous, and a special section on the abominable snowmen or bigfoots. There’s also an excellent two-part article on the myth of the giant squid, which dives into myriad cases that make this monster more fascinating than the one imagined in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
4. Shuker Nature (Web): Insightful Analysis by Leading Cryptology Expert
British zoologist Dr. Karl Shuker is one of the leading experts in the world on cryptids and other strange animals. He has written several books on these subjects, is a consultant with Guinness World Records, and strives to bring scientific temperament to the pursuit of cryptozoology.
On his blog, ShukerNature, Dr. Shuker reviews books on cryptids, examines and analyzes claims both new and old, and also writes detailed posts on possible cryptids through his research. Despite being an academic, the writing style on the blog is conversational and keeps things simple for the layman to understand.
Dr. Shuker’s extensive research also gives him access to a large variety of images, which you won’t find easily on other parts of the web. In fact, if you browse the complete blog index, look for posts headlined with ‘A ShukerNature Picture of the Day.’ Most posts include some cool artwork, which Dr. Shuker analyzes and often debunks by citing the lore and context around the image.
To get an idea of what to expect on ShukerNature, check out his post on China’s Feng-Huang phoenix. This piece encapsulates Dr. Shuker’s detailed research, ability to draw material from varied sources, and the use of images to further his narrative.
5. Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology (Web): Wikipedia of All Cryptids and Unknown Animals
The Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology (EoC) is the closest thing you will get to a Wikipedia of all cryptids. Anyone can contribute and edit to this directory of 444 unknown or mythical animals, which also has a further 250 articles of related materials like cryptozoologists, hoaxes, cryptobotany, etc.
On each cryptid’s page, you will find a detailed account of anything you want to know about them. Usually, the page lists the best descriptions through eye-witness accounts and paintings, a chronological timeline of when and where it was sighted (often with large excerpts from autobiographies and journals), physical evidence trails (including photographs, audio recordings, and artifacts), and theories about its existence (including possible hoaxes).
You can browse the directory of cryptids by country or region or type of animal. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try random articles to go down a rabbit hole of exotic creatures. The “Featured Articles” section offers a few good reads too. The homepage of EoC also tracks cryptozoology news and blogs, making it a good place to find updates from anyone’s research.
Today’s Cryptozoology, Tomorrow’s Zoology
Due to its very nature of being scientifically unproven, cryptozoology should be looked at with a skeptical eye. These stories are fascinating, the creatures are intriguing, but until they are proven, they must be taken with a pinch of salt; but not with ridicule or disrespect.
In the past, cryptids have turned out to be true. Dr. Shucker makes a great point when he talks about the inherent disadvantage of cryptozoology, saying, “Cryptozoology can never win, because as soon as one of its subjects is confirmed to be real, it is no longer cryptozoological but zoological instead.”
