Cryptid/ Mythological Creature Encyclopedia

Kushtaka

Animal Class: Mammal

Diet: Carnivorous

Kushtaka are much more intelligent than than appear to be and are capable of speech. As a matter of fact, all Kushtaka are capable of speaking English to certain degrees.

Kushtaka are the largest living species of Otter and they are the only Otter species that walks bipedally.

Their claws and teeth are very sharp and they use them to hunt Fish( They will also create nets to catch Fish in), but, they can also hunt things like Deer and Moose using large spears.

Kushtaka are very protective of the bodies of water that they inhabit and will aggressively chase off anyone that tries to pollute them.

Naturally live in Alaska and Canada with some living as far North as Ellesmere Island. ( The Kushtaka that live that far north have much thicker coats of fur and are extremely wary of outsiders)

Being Otters, Kushtaka are very good swimmers and can even swim in the strongest of rapids. However, they need to rest for a very long time after swimming in rapids.

Kushtaka swim in both freshwater and saltwater with some even helping crab fisherman in the Bering Sea by rescuing crew members that fall overboard.

According to ancient Alaskan legends, Kushtaka were once very different depending on what part of Alaska they lived in. Southern Alaskan Kushtaka were peaceful and docile creatures that loved to help out Humans whilst Northern Alaskan Kushtaka were very aggressive and malevolent creatures that went out of their way to hurt Humans. It is still unclear as to whether or not these legends are true.

All Kushtaka suffer from severe cynophobia and this could be because of the fact that large packs of wild Canines such as Wolves are some of the only land predators that would dare to take on a fully grown Kushtaka. ( Even fully grown Polar Bears have been known to flee from adult Kushtaka)

Many groups of Kushtaka that live by the ocean have formed a symbiotic relationship with creatures like Orcas and Sea Serpents. The larger creatures will scare Fish into the direction of Kushtaka and the Kushtaka will trap the prey behind nets. Both species then get their fair share of the catch.

The average lifespan of a Kushtaka is around 40 to 50 years, but a few have managed to live to be over 100.

Extra Fun Fact: It is a myth that Kushtaka have shape shifting powers and this myth most likely came into existence because people saw Werewolves changing by the river and were too far away to see that it was a Wolf and not an Otter.