Some cryptids, once thought to be myths, against all odds turned out to be real animals. Here are seven of the most incredible. The word ‘Cryptid’ refers to any entity whose existence has yet to be documented outside of legends and myths — like… the Loch Ness Monster. But believe it or not, many real animals you might recognize today were once cryptids themselves, thought to exist only in folklore. As humankind has explored more and more remote parts of our planet’s surface, increasingly fantastical organisms have been discovered. So, for this entry into the archives, we’re going to catalogue seven real animals once upon a time thought to be cryptids.