Cryptids & Contested CreaturesAn Illustrated Compendium of Mysterious Beasts, Legendary Creatures, and Cryptozoological Wonders from Around the WorldEvery continent harbours its share of the unexplained: panthers prowling English moors, enormous footprints left in the Himalayan snow, serpents of impossible size coiling through turbulent waters, and silent predators with glowing eyes capable of vanishing into the jungle without a trace. Cryptids & Contested Creatures explores humanity's enduring fascination with the unknown across six richly illustrated chapters examining beasts that defied belief until proven real, phantom cats and black dogs that stalk the shadows, lake monsters and sea serpents of impossible scale, human-like creatures from Bigfoot to the Yeti, beings that defy nature's laws, and nightmarish entities that blur the line between flesh and folklore. From the Black Swan paradox that shattered centuries of scientific certainty to modern encounters in remote wilderness, each entry draws on historical accounts, indigenous traditions, expedition journals, and eyewitness testimony. Discover the Mngwa of Tanzania, the Bunyip of Australia, the Wendigo of frozen forests, the Mokele-mbembe lurking in Congo's swamps, and dozens more creatures that refuse to vanish from our world despite science's best efforts to dismiss them. Beautifully illustrated with Victorian-style engravings and featuring:Over 40 cryptids organized by type and behaviourRegional appendix cataloguing creatures by continentExtensive bibliography of cryptozoological researchHistorical context from black swans to living fossilsFor readers of:Cryptozoology and Fortean mysteriesFolklore, mythology, and monster huntingNatural history and zoological anomaliesAnyone who believes the world is larger and stranger than we dare imagineFrom the Library Mirabilis series - Victorian-inspired volumes for collectors, cryptozoologists, sceptics, believers, and all who treasure the unexplained. For doubters seeking evidence, believers collecting wonder, and all who sense the world is larger and stranger than we dare imagine.