| Ningen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Naming | |||
| Binomen | N/A | ||
| Original | 人間 | ||
| Romanization | Ningen | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Humanoid cetacean | ||
| Average length | 18 to 27 meters | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sentience | Sentient | ||
| Sapience | Unknown | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | Southern Ocean | ||
| Locomotion | Swimming | ||
| Status | DD | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | Real | ||
The Ningen are one of the most bizarre cryptids in the world, and have been documented since the late 20th century, usually inhabiting the seas around Antarctica.
The name "Ningen" comes from the Japanese word for "human", referring to the strange humanoid features of these otherwise whale-like animals.
Biology[]
Ningen are huge creatures, rivaling even the largest whales in size. Their skin is white and, unlike any known aquatic animal, they seem to have well-developed arms in place of flippers, which give them a strangely humanoid appearance. Some reports even claim that they have five-fingered hands, just like humans. Their facial features consist solely of a couple of eyes and a mouth.
They seem to be most active at night, which, combined with the fact that they're easily mistaken for ice blocks, makes observation difficult.
If the Ningen is indeed real, its biological identity remains a mystery, although there exist many theories, ranging from a new and gigantic species of manta ray to a living descendant of the extinct oceanic giant sloth Thalassocnus, to even some kind of yōkai or alien.