10 Mythical Creatures That Actually Existed
2. Kraken
The Myth: The Kraken is a massive and mighty creature from deep beneath the sea that pulls ships down to the depths with its mighty tentacles. Tales of the Kraken can be found throughout European literature, and it is often described as a massive creature that resembled a floating island or was so large, its tentacles could pull entire vessels under the sea.
The Reality: Sailors have been describing strange creatures for millennia, and while most beasts described by them over the years proved to be wildly inaccurate, not everything was. The Kraken may have been described as a violent creature that sank ships, but in reality, it was likely a colossal squid.
They can reach lengths of up to 33 feet (10 meters) and weigh in at 1,500 lbs. (700 kg). They have strong tentacles, which are filled with suction cups like other squid and octopus, but these nasty buggers feature large hooked claws, giving it a grabbing advantage over others of its kind.
These animals have been known for thousands of years, but they were only first described in 1925. The first live specimen wasn't captured in 2007, but tales of the beast's mighty tentacles likely gave birth to the myth of the Kraken, as they have washed up on beaches around the world throughout history.