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There are thousands of recognized Cryptids or "hidden-animals". There is also infinite amount of potential for discovery of new species. In other words, this list will be ongoing and vast. Therefore, there is some necessity to categorize these subjects. We have chosen (for our list) to establish a system of 4 major categories of Cryptozoological creatures and will label them as such:
Undiscovered creatures which have never been seen (and therefore do not appear on this list)
Uncatalogued creatures which have been observed but not formally documented
Remnants which we know existed but are supposed to be extinct
Folkloric creatures which may have some root in the other three categories but are primarily driven by myths and legends
Like our excellent Paranormal Glossary (which we encourage you to visit as well) we intend to not only list but define and elaborate on these subjects. This system provides a fairly solid foundation for us to do this. The sources for this information are numerous and the knowledge is public.
Abyssal Fish
(Undiscovered) The majority of the planet is covered by water. A great number of creatures are speculated to exist in the depths of the Earth's seas and oceans. As technology allows us to delve deeper into the abyss, many of these species will be catalogued while others may never be captured. Two such species that have come to light are the Giant Squid (Kraken) and the Coelacanth.
Adjule
(Folkloric) In northern Africa (particularly in areas surrounding the Sahara) locals believe the Adjule to be a spirit that takes the form of a canine. This is obviously a cultural myth and is usually most likely in reference to dogs, hyenas, jackals, and other wild canines roaming the area.
Afa
(Remnant) The Iraqi Desert is home to many lizards with the largest being the desert monitor. The Afa refers to a species of large monitor lizards, far larger than the desert monitor. There is evidence of such lizards roaming the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates, however, monitors this large have never been recorded in modern times.
Agogwe
(Uncatalogued) In 1937 a British Captain named William Hitchins publicly recalled an incident that took place in 1900 in which he and others claimed to have spotted two small bipedal hominids while he was hunting in Africa:
"Some years ago I was sent on an official lion-hunt in this area and, while waiting in a forest glade for a man-eater, I saw two small, brown, furry creatures come from dense forest on one side of the glade and disappear into the thickets on the other. They were like little men, about 4 feet high, walking upright, but clad in russet hair."
There is some validity to the witness as Hitchins spent some time in Africa and was an experienced hunter. European visitation and occupation in Africa bred many of these sorts of stories. For most Europeans, a trip to Africa provided exposure to many species of "Old World" Primates found throughout the continent. What Hitchins and and others in the region saw was most likely an actual animal.
Ahool
(Folkloric) Descriptions of the Ahool range from a giant bat, to a flying hominid, to a living pterosaur. This myth was first brought to the modern scientific community by Dr. Ernest Bartels. While exploring the Salak Mountains in Java, Bartels also discovered two large species of owl which led him to believe these birds had been misidentified and rooted in the Ahool legend.
Ahuitzotl
(Folkloric) In Aztec legends, this creature was said to be like a large otter with five hands or claws (one on its tail) like a raccoon. This creature was supposedly very fond of human flesh and would lure people to the river with its cry (like a baby) before devouring them.
Akkorokamui
(Folkloric) Akkorokamui is a squid or octopus-like monster. It supposedly lurks in the Funka Bay in Hokkaido, Japan. It is described as having a red body. This cultural myth is most likely the product of actual sightings of Giant Squid.
Alien Big Cats
(Uncatalogued) ABC's are a generic label for any sort of large, predatory cat seen outside of a natural or common habitat.
Almas
(Uncatalogued) Mongolian for "wild man". This hominid is reputed to inhabit the Caucasus and Pamir Mountains of central Asia, and the Altai Mountains of southern Mongolia. Asia is also home to "Old World" Primates.
Altamaha-ha
(Remnant/Folkloric) The Altamaha-ha is an aquatic creature alleged in local mythology and folklore to inhabit the myriad network of small streams and abandoned rice fields near the mouth of the Altamaha River in southeastern Georgia. Particularly around Darien and elsewhere in McIntosh County. While there is plenty of evidence to support the past and current existence of aquatic reptiles throughout the American continent, no physical evidence for its existence has been recorded and witness statements vary.
Amarok
Andean Wolf
