Classification: Mythical Beasts & Cryptids

Temporal Range: 18th Century to present

Geographic Range: Argentina and Chile

Diet: Internal organs and blood

Horde: Latin American

Looking like the horrifying offspring of a giant ray and a cowhide that’s been left out to dry, El Cuero is a cryptid that dwells in Lácar Lake in the Andes Mountains. There have also been sightings of a similar creature in Nahuel Huapi in Argentina although we are yet to be able to prove if they are both El Cuero. This would suggest multiple creatures rather than one single beast swimming in Lácar Lake.

One of the more unusual monsters in the Grimoire, El Cuero is an aquatic creature with claws around its edges. Its eyes are on stalks and from above, it resembles a tanned goat or cow hide (hence the name, which literally means “hide”). The creature also has a long, razor-sharp tail, tipped with a barb, which it uses to pierce its prey.

El Cuero attacks that we have read of seem horrific. It leaps out of the water to lunge at unsuspecting fishermen, swimmers or even passersby. After stabbing its victims with its barbed tail, it extends its jaw to slurp out all the blood and internal organs through the same wound, hardly a dignified end. Some say it even steals knives from previous victims to up its arsenal, but without concrete evidence, we’re chalking that up to tall tales (or tail tales, if you will).

Our field agents have managed to locate some photographic evidence of the creature, but - as with all cryptid sightings - it could be easily attributed to a known living creature, such as an unusual ray. We are currently seeking clearer images but the dangerous and stealthy nature of this beast have made expeditions to capture more evidence (or better still, a living specimen) incredibly difficult.

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