El Chupacabra. The name of this creature translates in English as the “Goat Sucker”. This rather odd name is more of a description of the animal and its attacks that were first noticed in the mid nineties. The creature was suspected in attacking goats, biting its neck with its long fanged teeth, and then draining all of the blood from its hapless victims. Of course this was just at the beginning, as it worked its way throughout Puerto Rico. Soon its victims would include all types of small animals, and eventually small children as well. None of the human attacks were fatal, but nonetheless panic quickly spread throughout the country Over time the attacks began in Central America, then Mexico, the southern US, and South America. There were several theories as to how the creature came about. Everything from alien extra-terrestrial pets to subterranean dwelling creatures that were loosed upon the surface by an earthquake. However the most popular theories is that the monsters were created in a secret US military base deep in the jungle, that escaped in the aftermath of hurricane Hugo.
Usually, chupacabras are said to appear in three specific forms:
The first and most common form is a lizard-like being, appearing to have leathery or scaly greenish-gray skin and sharp spines or quills running down its back. This form stands approximately 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 m) high, and stands and hops in a similar fashion to a kangaroo. In at least one sighting, the creature hopped 20 feet (6 m). This variety is said to have a dog or panther-like nose and face, a forked tongue protruding from it, large fangs, and to hiss and screech when alarmed, as well as leave a sulfuric stench behind. When it screeches, some reports note that the chupacabra's eyes glow an unusual red, then give the witnesses nausea.
The second variety bears a resemblance to a wallaby or dog standing on its hind legs. It stands and hops as a kangaroo, and it has coarse fur with greyish facial hair. The head is similar to a dog's, and its mouth has large teeth.
The third form is described as a strange breed of wild dog. This form is mostly hairless, has a pronounced spinal ridge, unusually pronounced eye sockets, teeth, and claws. This animal is said to be the result of interbreeding between several populations of wild dogs, though enthusiasts claim that it might be an example of a dog-like reptile. The account during the year 2001 in Nicaragua of a chupacabra's corpse being found supports the conclusion that it is simply a strange breed of wild dog. The alleged corpse of the animal was found in Tolapa, Nicaragua, and forensically analyzed at UNAN-Leon. Pathologists at the University found that it was just an unusual-looking dog. There are very striking morphological differences between different breeds of dog, which can easily account for the strange characteristics.
