Mapinguari
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The Mapinguari (or Mapinguary) would be a 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 XIX century but finds little currency nowadays.[citation needed]
Among the many researchers who have tried to find evidence for the existence of the Mapinguari were the ornitologist 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]
[edit] 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.
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.
