Category: Cryptozoology-Turtles

In the third century Aelian wrote: “This sea [the Indian Ocean] produces monstrous turtles, the shells of which can be used as roofs.” In 1154,…

Pearl Turtle : Mystery Turtle of East Asia. Physical description: Turtle with six legs. Distribution: Near Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. Source: Bernard E. Read, Chinese…

Ndendeki : Giant Turtle of Central Africa. Etymology: Probably Lingala (Bantu) word. Variant name: Ndendecki. Physical description: Rounded shell, 12–15 feet in diameter. Behaviour: Aquatic.…

Hoàn Kiem Turtle : Giant freshwater Turtle of Southeast Asia. Etymology: Vietnamese (Austroasiatic), “returned sword,” after the legend by which the lake got its name.…

Giant Malagasy Tortoise : Mystery Turtle of Madagascar. Variant name: Ranta (Malagasy/Austronesian). Physical description: Large tortoise. Habitat: Caves. Distribution: Southwest coast of Madagascar. Possible explanation:…

Father-of-All-the-Turtles : A giant Turtle, one category of Sea Monster identified by Bernard Heuvelmans. Etymology: From a Sumatran legend. Variant name: Aspidochelone (Greek, “snake-turtle”). Physical…

Beast of ’Busco ; Giant Turtle of Indiana. Etymology: Short for Churubusco, Indiana. Variant names: Oscar, Phantom Churubusco turtle. Physical description: Turtle said to be…