year of the Japanese cryptid

Serpent hunting in the Year of the Snake

By AMY CHAVEZ

As 2013 is the Year of the Snake, for your serpentine pleasure, I've put together a list of snake-like creatures from Japanese legends and folklore. Loch Ness monster fans, Yeti fans and Bigfoot fans, you're going to have a heck of a year in 2013 with all the cryptids waiting to be discovered. Japan is crawling with 'em. Keep in mind there are regional interpretations of these creatures as well as those based on fuzzy citizen journalist iPhone photos and descriptions of one-on-one encounters.In 2013, beware of misfortune and illness brought by the nue, a creature referred to in Japanese literature since ancient times. Like many Japanese creatures, the nue is a chimera, consisting of the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog), and believe it or not, the feet of a tiger. And no nue is complete without a snake-headed tail. Oooowey! Yucky poo. That's one ugly creature. Appearance alone at your doorstep would be enough to make you ill. And to think of how fast it can travel if it has the legs of a tiger! In addition, the nue can change into a black cloud and fly.

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