Orobon
Field Report
The Orobon is a cryptid of Central African folklore, said to dwell in slow-moving rivers and forested swamps. Described as a massive fish or semi-aquatic creature with thick, armored scales and a broad, paddle-like tail, it allegedly surfaces with a low, resonant growl that carries over water. Fishermen tell of nets shredded by something far larger than known regional fish, with entire dugout canoes sometimes jostled by unseen forces beneath the surface. Scientists typically attribute these stories to encounters with exceptionally large catfish or Nile perch exaggerated by fear and mist. Yet the Orobon remains a haunting possibility in local rivers, a murky leviathan woven from equal parts biology and legend.
Classification
Type:Aquatic Cryptid
Location:Philippines, Samar Province
Traits:Large, eel-bodied, serrated fins, dark slick skin, deep ocean habitat.
Threat Assessment
Danger Level: 3.2
First Reported: 1900s
Sightings: 1
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Behavioral Patterns
It drifts through shallow coastal inlets with slow, drifting fin flicks. Boats overhead pass without notice as it continues on a quiet path.
Folklore & Origins
Papua New Guinean tribes spoke of this as a forest spirit appearing to enforce clan taboos.
Media Documentation
Mentioned only in Japanese internet lore threads and yokai illustration projects. No serious folklore study includes it. Stays confined to online myth circles.
Hoax Analysis
Orobon is a cryptid from African folklore with no known hoax investigations, considered more mythic than fraudulent.