Bunyip
Australia has a long history of marvelous creatures and that history continues to this day. One of those creatures is known as the Bunyip, which translates to spirit or devil.
The Bunyip was first noted in what is called the Dream Time. The aboriginal Dream Time is a part of their culture and explains the origins and culture of the land and its people. So the Bunyip goes back in time as far as the natives of Australia can remember.
The Bunyip is nocturnal and will devour any human or animal that gets to close to its lair. Bunyips live in the water; lakes, rivers, streams or swamps. It is said that these critters have a blood curdling scream or screech. This scream comes either before the Bunyip makes a kill as a warning or after a kill to announce its victory depending on who you're talking to.
The Bunyip has been described by many people and it appears that it appears differently to different people. Few descriptions match, but those that do talk of the Bunyip having a dog-like face, fins and long hair or fur is about 4 feet long. The aborigines have ancient rock paintings that show a horse-like tail, flippers and walrus like tusks or horns. Other descriptions have included scales, feathers, a creature with a long neck and a long tail.
In recent years the Bunyip has become a sort of cultural icon in Australia. The animal has shown up in children's literature and movies and on the telly. There was also an American children's show starring the Bunyip but it was produced by an Australian not a Yankee.
The Bunyip might be related to other animals of myth. These creatures are often referred to as Water Dogs. Other Water Dogs include the Kelpie. The Kelpie comes from Celtic lore and are said to haunt rivers. They have grey black fur and are distinguished from other animals by a dripping mane.
Ireland has its own version of a Water Dog; sometimes water dogs are called Water Horses. This Irish Water Dog is called a Dobhar-Chu, please don't ask me to pronounce it!
This creature is sometimes called the Otter King. This king of the otters has the face of a dog. It is thought that this critter might have a slimy body or maybe he's hairless. Others suggest the Dobhar-Chu's coloring is a variation of the black and white, white and black theme.
The fact is that no one really knows what the Dobhar-Chu, the Kelpie or the Bunyip truly look like. It's also true that these animals might not be real but that is where Cryptozoology comes in.