cryptid

plural cryptids

1. biologyA creature known only from folklore or legend, the existence of which is not proven by scientific observation.

   Well, that's a painting of the mysterious Brown Blur. It's a cryptid that allegedly roams these very woods.

   2025 November 9, Zach Hadel, Michael Cusack, “Pim and Charlie Save Mother Nature” (01:06 from the start), in Smiling Friends, season 3, episode 5, spoken by Mr. Boss (Marc M.), via Cartoon Network

   1 more example

   Now comes perhaps the cleverest tag of all: cryptozoology. It refers to the search for new animals, animals dwelling in unexpected places, and most importantly for "X-Files" scriptwriters, "cryptids"—legendary creatures such as the yeti.

   1999 August 16, Steve Burgess, “Loren Coleman, Loch Ness snowman of cryptozoology”, in salon.com