Grampus

Grampus is a cryptid rooted in maritime folklore, especially among European fishermen who described a massive, dark dolphin or small whale that exhibited unusually aggressive behavior. Historical accounts often blurred lines between sightings of actual Risso’s dolphins—also called Grampus griseus—and exaggerated tales of sea monsters that would ram boats or circle them ominously. Over time, “Grampus” became a catch-all term for any frightening cetacean encounter that didn’t neatly fit known categories. The legend highlights how even well-documented marine animals can slip into cryptid territory when behaviors or appearances stray from sailors’ expectations. Grampus embodies humanity’s lingering tension with the sea, where familiarity never quite dispels the possibility that something unknown might surface beside the hull.