chupacabra, in Latin American popularlegend, a monstrous creature that attacks animals andconsumes their blood. The name is derived from the Spanish wordschupar (“to suck”) andcabra (“goat”) and can be translated as “goat-sucker.” As a fearsome but probably nonexistent creature, the chupacabra has been characterized as the southern equivalent of theSasquatch.

The chupacabra only recently joined thevampire in the bestiary of bloodsucking creatures. Chupacabras were first reported in 1995, inPuerto Rico, where they were blamed for attacks on goats, sheep, and other domestic animals, supposedly leaving uneaten carcasses that were drained of blood. Early reports described a creature that stood upright and resembled a large reptiliankangaroo with huge red eyes. No actualspecimens were found, and skeptics suggested that “witnesses” may have been influenced by the Hollywood science-fictionhorror filmSpecies (1995), which features a monster of similar appearance. But other sightings were reported throughout theAmericas and as far north as theUnited States.

A different type of chupacabra was also reported in many of the same places. These chupacabras were smaller and stood upon four feet. They were generallycanine in appearance but hairless. Actual specimens were produced, but they were identified by biologists ascoyotes,dogs, or canine hybrids. The animals owed their strange appearance to hair loss resulting frommange, an infestation of themiteSarcoptes scabiei. It was suggested that the canines attackedlivestock because the debilitating effects of the infestation put wild prey out of their reach.

The chupacabra soon found its way into popularculture. Both types of the creatures served as monsters in low-budget motion pictures.