Monsters

These ancient terrors, from Australia’s bunyip to Brazil’s capelobo, still haunt—and hunt—us.

In 1815, the obsession with swine-ish, upper-class ladies reached a fever pitch.

Legends of Tahoe Tessie go back centuries.

Author and Atlas Obscura columnist Colin Dickey takes us on a wild, alien-filled ride.

Hide your dog; hide your children.

Let spring's wild rumpus begin.

The humanoid anteater slurps its victim’s gray matter as if devouring termites in a mound.

The Yara ma tha who is more terrifying than any vampire.

Turns out some monsters are real—and pretty cute.

On the night before the Balinese New Year, villagers bring monsters to life—and then burn them.

Some say the true death worm has already been found—slithering beneath the sands of the Gobi.

Do not follow the woman in white.

The 18-foot-long, dog-headed beast-fish didn't seem so unbelievable to Africa's early white colonizers.

Even if you’re not convinced cryptids exist, these spots will offer a fascinating look into the minds of those who are.