Tatzelwurm

In Alpine folklore, the Tatzelwurm is a stubby, ferocious, lizard-like creature, 1-7 feet long (depending on what source you read), which is often said to have a cat-like head and, in many accounts, no hindlimbs. Originating from stories of a catheaded, spiked-ridged-backed dragon, the first eyewitness account of the Tatzelwurm (worm with claws) was made by Hans Fuchs, a man who claimed to have seen 2 of them in 1779: the experience led to a fatal heart attack. Later, a relative painted depictions of the two monsters, which were big and looked like lizards.  Like the Gila Monster, is said to have a venemous bite. 
The Tatzelwurm is rumored to live in several areas of Europe, including Spain and the Austrian, Bavarian, Italian, and Swiss Alps. It has several regional names including Stollenwurn, Springwurm, Arassas, and Praatzelwurm. In 1934 a Swiss photograper named Balkin allegedly saw a strange creature near a log and photographed it. The resulting interest in the creature inspired by Berliner Illustierte to sponser an expedition in search of the Tatzelwurm, but the expedition was a failure and interest quickly faded. Some scientists and cryptozoologists agree the 1934 Tatzelwurm photograph was a hoax, but Tatzelwurm sightings have continued to present day, and German Cryptozoological researcher Ulrich Magin has published several artucles in the Fortean Times and his own magazine Bilk documenting them.
In 1990, near the Italian town of Domodosola, a reptile skeleton that has defied identification was found. Could these remains be the first of a Tatzelwurm ever found?
Category:Warriors
Category:Beast warriors