4 – The Chupacabra
The Chupacabra (sometimes Chupacabras) is one of the most dramatic of all cryptids and one of the most frequently sighted. Its Spanish name means “goat-sucker” and it’s believed to feed by sucking the blood of other animals. It is often said to be a giant lizard, sometimes with spines running down its back, most often located in the Americas, first in Puerto Rico, but as far south as Chile and as far north as Maine in the United States. It’s a recent addition to the cryptozoology spotters guide, only appearing in 1995 when sheep were attacked in Puerto Rico. A serious study of these sightings even concluded that the beast was based on the alien in the contemporary film Species. There are reports of similar vampire beasts around the world. The most recent reported Chupacabra encounter was the discovery of a strange animal corpse in Texas in July 2015.