These amphibious (and reportedly vicious) primate-reptile combos hail from the isolated, mud browned rivers, ponds and streams found all throughout the Japanese Islands, but are most commonly seen in the areas of Kyushu and the southern portion of Honshu. Although this animal is most certainly an AQUATIC ENIGMA, its unique synthesis of mammalian and reptilian attributes have landed it on this list.

Described as being basically simian in appearance, this animal is credited with having a protective, tortoise-like shell, double jointed rear legs - which are said to resemble those of a frog - and long webbed fingers and toes. While the details may differ, the description of this animal as a quasi-reptilian primate seems necessitate comaprisons with other repro-mammalian beasts, such as the South African INTULO.

Although the Kappa is said to have the fur of a typical monkey, there are reports of a thin sheen of scales running down this animal's limbs, and a proboscis-like tongue through which it is able to siphon the blood from its victims, a decidedly CHUPACABRA-esque feature.

Perhaps this creature's most fascinating characteristic is the indentation which curves into the top of its skull. It is said that this crevice must remain perpetually moist, lest the Kappa lose what has been described as its "mystical powers". Just one of these many powers is said to be that of tremendous strength, and there are numerous stories of Kappas pulling not only human victims to their watery graves, but horses as well.

Legend has it that due to this creature's obsessive politeness; all one has to due to avoid being eaten and gain the Kappa's favor, is to bow so low that when it is compelled to return the courtesy, the water in its shallow skull cavity will pour out. This is said to render the animal impotent and therefore harmless to its potential prey. Due to this intriguing behavior, the Kappa has been a favorite character in Japanese fiction for centuries, but to discover the Kappa's biological origins, one must separate the zoological facts from the veneer of Japanese mythology.

It seems obvious, even to the layman, that tales of the Kappas supernatural "powers", as well as their prototypically "Japanese" politeness, are probably the byproduct of years of folklore. That having been said, even mainstream academics would be forced to admit that if an aquatic-primate where discovered it might well have an intellect which is comparable to that of a common chimpanzee.

Some researchers have even suggested that the cognitive prowess of the Kappa might be even more impressive, especially in light of scientific evidence accumulated over the past two decades in regards to the positive long term affects, which some researchers claim a primarily marine diet may have on an animal's intellect.

Much like their reptilian cousins, the Kappas are said to be sluggish during cold weather and it is commonly believed that these animals hibernate during the frigid winter months. There are even supposed to be two distinct species of Kappa, those who dwell in sea-level ponds and those who have migrated into more mountainous areas. These high-elevation water dwellers are known as "Yamawaro".