10 Mythical Creatures That Actually Existed

The Myth: Imoogi are Korean dragons, which resemble all forms of Chinese dragons. They are often depicted as long, snake-like reptiles with four legs. Unlike European dragons, Imoogi do not have wings and are considered benevolent creatures related to water and agriculture.

The Reality: While there is no such creature in the fossil record, there is something similar called the titanoboa. Titanoboa was the largest snake to ever slither across the ground, and various specimens have been found indicating they could grow up to 42 feet (12.8 meters) in length and weigh as much as 2,500 lbs. (1,135 kg).

It's highly unlikely anyone in Korea would have ever seen the bones of a titanoboa, as the creature's range was throughout the rainforests of what is now South America. They died out around 58 million years ago, so the comparison between the myth and reality is entirely coincidental.

Like most dragon myths, the Imoogi likely arose from ancient people who found bones belonging to extinct species. Korean findings that gave rise to the myth of dragons likely came from marine reptiles or dinosaur fossils. Additionally, tall tales spread about creatures like Imoogi until they explode into mythological beasts.