#LibraryCryptids
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transarcana.bsky.social
Today’s bibliophile cryptid is the Pine Barrens’ own Jersey Devil!

#librarydoodles
#librarycryptids
March 5, 2025 at 1:17 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
The narigama is a mischievous yōkai that sports a flaming rice pot on its head. This one has clearly modernized a bit

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
A drawing of a hairy-bodied monster with an electric rice-cooker for a head, carrying an armload of books.
March 19, 2025 at 12:11 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
Today’s cryptid is a Jorōgumo (a spider lady) but I wanted to give her a twist. I based her on the nananana makakiʻi, or Hawaiʻian Happy Face Spider and put her in more casual clothes than the typical layers of kimono.

#librarycryptids
#librarydoodles
#yokai
A drawing of a woman in a halter top and jeans reading a book. Her face is a spider with abstract markings that look like a happy face.
March 12, 2025 at 12:26 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
One of the more tragic cryptids is the squonk. Supposedly so ugly that it would avoid its reflection and dissolve into tears if cornered. Wow, I can feel the dysphoria metaphor.

The feathers and beak are a nod to Nancy Springer’s “Byrd Song” short story.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
March 15, 2025 at 12:26 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
Spotted a familiar figure flipping through books in the library.

#Mothman
#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
Drawing of a bird-like figure hunched over a table reading a book with shelves looming around it
June 9, 2025 at 3:12 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
Thimblecrabs take up residence in any brikabrack they can find. When surprised, they explode into dust and reappear by next Tuesday.

They’re the primary cause for objects being moved in the night.

#LibraryCryptids
#originals
#LibraryDoodles
A swarm of thimbles with legs, claws, and eyes work together to carry a book across a desk
June 13, 2025 at 12:17 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
No one’s judging you for reading them, Flatwoods Monster.

(My favorite cryptid that’s probably an owl in a tree stump.)
#FlatwoodsMonster
#librarydoodles
#LibraryCryptids
Alien figure with a skull like face holding a stack of books about a man who is also a dog. Or just an owl in a tree stump.
February 20, 2025 at 10:51 PM
transarcana.bsky.social
Is this tatzelwurm about to eat a nest full of eggs?

Nope! Turns out it’s just a mama reading to her kids.

Tatzelwurms are mythical cat-headed serpents that roam the woods of Central Europe.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
Grinning, cat-headed snake looms over a book behind a nest full of eggs.
March 26, 2025 at 12:12 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
I love my horrible little son.

A little fungus demon running amok in the library

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
June 7, 2025 at 1:34 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
Today’s cryptid is one of the classics: the Mongolian Death Worm.

Huge stylistic shout outs to Frank Quitely. Huge caterpillars with baby hands are wonderfully grotesque.

The Mongolian Death Worm can supposedly kill with a spray of venom OR a jolt of electricity.

#librarycryptids
#librarydoodles
Huge worm monster with baby hands drooling ichor while it reads a book
March 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
I’m so please with how this aloe vera sprite turned out.

I was really channeling my love of Tony DiTerlizzi’s style here.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
A round little guy with spikes aloe vera leaves for hair stands in front of a pile of books, holding a spear of aloe vera flowers
May 11, 2025 at 12:34 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
Learning about humans can be frightening! #alien #librarydoodles #librarycryptids
A gray alien grimacing as it reads a book about human anxiety
February 20, 2025 at 1:17 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
#Bigfoot is surprisingly erudite with his reading choices.
#librarydoodles
#librarycryptids
An ink drawing of a hulking Sasquatch reading about remarkably bright creatures. Nipples included.
February 22, 2025 at 10:56 PM
transarcana.bsky.social
Reading fairy tales by salamander-light is a vibe.

#LibraryDoodles
#LibraryCryptids
Open book in front of a jar holding an ephemeral, axolotl-like creature made of flame.
April 19, 2025 at 1:30 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
That rarest of indoorovores, the Uncommon Sock Eater.

Manifested by the belief that missing socks have to be going *somewhere,* the Eater of Socks first appears in Sir Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather.

#Discworld
#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
#Transrights
#GNUpterry
A small tapir-like creature with an extremely-wide snout. It sits behind a scattered pile of socks. Trans pride colors bedeck the small creature.
April 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
transarcana.bsky.social
A little lady gnome on her way back from the library.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
A stout little lady gnome with a wide face and bushy hair strolls under mushrooms while carrying a book
June 11, 2025 at 3:54 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
Today’s sketch is a personal favorite—the Noppera-bo, or as she’s known in Hawaii, the Faceless Woman.
#librarydoodles
#librarycryptids
Woman without a face wearing a kimono and reading a book about vampires and colonialism
March 1, 2025 at 1:16 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
A spider plant pixie for today. I guess it’s fairy week!

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
A tiny humanoid figure crouched over an open book. Instead of hair, it had the arching leaves of a spider plant.
May 8, 2025 at 2:10 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
The hodag is a fearsome critter born of the ashes of cremated oxen in the folklore of the American Tall Tale.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodes
Hulking scaled creature with large horns and tusks holding up a book
April 30, 2025 at 2:09 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
A pinpoint clover fairy.

Pinpoint clover is an endangered species of California clover. You got this, little fairy!

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
Tiny and grumpy humanoid hanging by its fingertips from the side of a vertical book on native Californian plants
May 9, 2025 at 12:28 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
This frightening fellow is a Yeren—a hairy ape-man that lives in the mountainous forests and caves of Hubei province in China. It also may just be a bear.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
A shaggy beast with bear and humanoid features reading a book
March 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
You don’t have to be embarrassed, Yeti. There’s nothing wrong with reading romance novels.

The yeti is reputedly a denizen of the Himalayan mountain range and several expeditions to find it have coincided with periods of political tension in that area.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
A large white furred humanoid looking nonplussed at the viewer while holding a tiny book
March 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
transarcana.bsky.social
Due to karmic consequences for evil deeds in a past life, Preta (hungry ghosts) are afflicted with an insatiable hunger in their current incarnation.

Looks like this one got off easy with a hunger for knowledge. (Some end up hungry for poop.)

#LibraryDoodles
#LibraryCryptids
Tiny humanoid with an open book across its lap. Its oversized head is entirely a massive, sharp-toothed maw with no other features.
April 18, 2025 at 1:06 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
Woo! That's over a week of #librarycryptids!

I think I've hit some of the more famous cryptids--any suggestions for new ones? Or for new books they could be reading?

Pt 1: Horned skullbeast, Mothman, Jackalope, Gray Alien
Horned skullbeast reading a bestseller about detectives and food Mothman reading socially-acceptable smut Jackalope with horns piercing a number of manga Gray alien reading about how anxious humans are
February 26, 2025 at 4:42 AM
transarcana.bsky.social
This chōchin obake (lantern monster) is doing its best to carry home some books without any arms.

It’s a little spookier looking, and I blame it on reading about Junji Ito earlier today. I think some of the horror bled in.

#LibraryCryptids
#LibraryDoodles
#Yokai
A paper lantern with monstrous features. Two eyeballs appear through rips in the paper, and a large rip forms a mouth with a big thick tongue. The tongue is wrapped around two books.
April 24, 2025 at 12:17 AM