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The mapinguari (or mapinguary) is a legendary sloth-like creature with red fur living in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil and Bolivia. According to the natives the creature has a series of unnatural characteristics related to other fantastic beings of Brazilian mythology, like long claws, cayman skin, backward feet and a second mouth on its belly.^{[citation needed]} These characteristics are not share by all accounts of the creature. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Families Megalonychidae Bradypodidae †Rathymotheriidae †Scelidotheriidae †Mylodontidae †Orophodontidae †Megatheriidae Sloths are medium-sized mammals that live in Central and South America belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae, part of the order Pilosa. ... J.F. Bertuch, Kinderbuch Fabelwesen 2, Anno 1806 The following is a list of legendary creatures that humans have at some point believed to be real but have not been proven to exist. ... A dogs fur usually consists of longer, stiffer, guard hairs—which can be straight, wiry, or wavy, and of various lengths, hiding a soft, short-haired undercoat. ... Map of the Amazon rainforest ecoregions as delineated by the WWF. Yellow line encloses the Amazon rainforest. ... An independent origin and development of writing is counted among the many achievements and innovations of pre-Columbian American cultures. ... Several different cultures influenced Brazils Mythology: Native indigenous folklore: Tupi, Guaraní, etc. ... CLAWS can also refer to the web site of Creating Livable Alternatives to Wage Slavery (CLAWS)[1] CLAWS is a modular open-source software package that provides account and identity management functions in a heterogeneous computing environment. ... For the overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the West Indies, see Cayman Islands For the islands, see Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, or Little Cayman. ...

Habits

It is slow, but ferocious and very dangerous due to its ability to move without noise in between the thick vegetation, its only weakness being that of avoiding water bodies (which limits its movements in a region where so many rivers, brooklets and lagoons exist, especially during the rainy season). Most accounts state that the creature is carnivorous -- though not necessarily man-eating. When it smells the presence of humans and stands up on its back feet, becoming as tall as two metres, a movement similar to Grizzly bears. This article deals with meat-eating animals. ... The metre or meter is a measure of length. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Science

Science and even most cryptozoologists ignore the existence of any such creature. Despite the claims of some misinformed foreigners, it is a folkloric/mythologic creature, just like the North American Wendigo, for instance -- although it is possibly based on traces of ancient tradition of the giant animals that existed in South American in the Pleistocene, like Megatherium, much the same way as the Australian bunyips. This theory was suggested by the Argentinian paleontologist Florentino Ameghino, in the late nineteenth century but finds little currency nowadays.^{[citation needed]} Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Cryptozoology is the search for animals that are rumored to exist, but for which conclusive proof is missing. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The word mythology (from the Greek μυολογία mythología, from μυολογείν mythologein to relate myths, from μύος mythos, meaning a narrative, and λόγος logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The mammoth, an extinct genus of megafauna. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Pleistocene epoch (IPA: ) is part of the geologic timescale. ... Megatheriinae were a subfamily of elephant-sized ground sloths that lived from 2 million to 8,000 years ago. ... The bunyip (usually translated as devil or spirit[1]) is a mythical creature from Australian folklore. ... Motto En unión y libertad(Spanish) In Union and Freedom Anthem Himno Nacional Argentino Capital (and largest city) Buenos Aires Official languages Spanish Demonym Argentine Government Federal republic  -  President Néstor Kirchner  -  Vice President Daniel Scioli  -  Premier Alberto Fernández Independence from Spain   -  May Revolution 25 May 1810   -  Declared... Paleontology, palaeontology or palæontology (from Greek: paleo, ancient; ontos, being; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. ... Florentino Ameghino (September 18, 1854 – August 6, 1911) was an Argentinian naturalist, paleontologist, anthropologist and zoologist. ...

Among the many researchers who have tried to find evidence for the existence of the Mapinguari were the ornithologist David Oren. In his expedition he collected material that was later shown to be agouti fur, anteater feces, and moulds of tracks that were inconclusive. Oren himself came to believe that the Mapinguari does not exist and that any existing evidence is actually forged.^{[citation needed]} Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigation and aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising human knowledge on different aspects of the world. ... For other senses of this word, see evidence (disambiguation). ... Ornithology (from the Greek ornis = bird and logos = word/science) is the branch of zoology concerned with the scientific study of birds. ... Agouti refers to a number of species of rodents, as well as a number of genes affecting coat coloration in several different animals. ... Families Cyclopedidae Myrmecophagidae Anteaters are the four mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua commonly known for eating ants and termites. ... Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) In humans, defecation may occur (depending on the individual and the circumstances) from once every two or three days to several times a day. ... Fox tracks in snow Racoon tracks Animal tracks are the imprints left behind in soil, snow, mud, or other ground surfaces that an animal walk across. ...

In popular culture

A supposed "leaked script" for the season finale of Lost's first season, found on the show's website, featured a scene where Charlie Pace is running from the show's famous monster. Charlie stumbles and turns to see the creature, which is revealed to be a mechanical Mapinguari. The script was later revealed to be a prank. In the The Official LOST Audio Podcast for Feb. 12th, the producers indicate that the mapinguari was part of the zoological experimentation of the DHARMA Initiative. “LOST” redirects here. ... Charlie Hieronymus Pace is a fictional character on the ABC television series Lost played by Dominic Monaghan. ...

In the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game Menace Manual, the mapinguari is listed as a possible enemy. Mapinguari generally don't fight, though, as their incredible stench keeps most enemies away and ensures their privacy.

See also

• Bigfoot
• Bunyips
• Dragon
• Grendel
• Nessie
• Wendigo
• Yeti