Racoonigator - [Fearsome Critter]

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Racoonigator - aka "The 'Coonigator"

• About this Critter: a hybrid of a Raccoon & an Alligator. Rather small and varmint-like, often said to be seen rooting through trash in Montpelier, Vermont, Texas. From a distance it looks like a regular ol' raccoon until it turns around, revealing a horribly toothy grin.

• History: not much is written about the 'coonigator prior to the “The Monster Spotters Guide to North America" – published July 11, 2007. - the book refers to them breifly as such along with an illustration: “Not much is known about these strange animals. According to reports they look like something out of the movie ‘Critters,’ resembling raccoon in both appearance and behaviour, except that they have fearsome alligator‑like faces.”

...There are no other accounts of this critter to be found in earlier literature (at least that I can find.) so, perhaps it's something the author heard of firsthand. - (He also used “fearsome” & “critters” in the same sentence, perhaps a joke referring to folkloric fearsome critters.)

Most scientists know for a fact that cross-breeding between mammals and reptiles is biologically impossible: so it's most often theorized to be more than likely the result of people mistaking a raccoon, for an opossum & their long snout for that of an 'gators.

By those standards & because of the uncertainty surrounding this creature's origins I'd categorize this as a 'Fearsome Critter' rather than as a "cryptid" proper. One should also note that there are plenty of 'gator-animal hybrids to be found in rogue taxidermy, such as the “Bassigator” or the “Crocidog” these fall under the critters umbrella as well!