Mongolian Death Worm
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The Mongolian Death Worm is a snakelike creature reported to exist in the Gobi Desert. It is generally considered a cryptozoological creature—that is, reported, but disputed and/or unconfirmed.
It is described as a fat, bright red worm, two to four feet long. The local name is "allghoi khorkhoi" which means "intestine worm," because it is reported to look like the intestine of a cow. There are a number of extraordinary claims by Mongolian locals (such as the ability of the worm to spew forth a yellow poison that is lethal on contact, and its purported ability to kill at a distance). However, there are no known scientifically reliable sightings. Some believe the worm is actually a reptile or legless lizard because of the dry climate in which it lives.
Chief investigator of this animal is Czech author Ivan Mackerle. Dr. Karl Shuker also describes it in his book The Beasts that Hide from Man (2003), where he says it reportedly kills its victims by electrocution.
The color yellow is believed to attract the worm.
External links
- Fortean times article on the Mongolian death worm (http://www.forteantimes.com/articles/182_deathworm1.shtml)
- Description of the MDW at a cryptozoology site (http://www.parascope.com/en/cryptozoo/predators06.htm)
- Progress of a 2005 hunt (http://www.deathworm.co.uk/)
- 2005 general update (http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0503-rhett_butler.html)