Hangdown - [Fearsome Critter]

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Hangdown - [Fearsome Critter, 1936]

• About This Critter: Usually described As "an utterly foolish animal" that climbs like a sloth, as the name suggests it hangs down from the limbs of trees along well-travelled trails, either with its fore or hind paws, either head down or head-on, either way, makes no difference to the creatures' digestion. It climbs along the bottom of a limb in the manner of a sloth. Its skin brings a high price, most easily hunted at night when a tub must be placed over it. It is then killed with an axe." Sadly, there's no mention of what it eats: its Latin name is also notably, unknown!! I'd bet Paul could tell us the truth...

• History: one of many critters only described (but not pictured) in 1936's "Paul Bunyans Natural History" which describes it as follows:

"HANGDOWN. Its Latin name is unknown. This utterly foolish animal lives in big woods “where it hangs down from the limbs of trees, either with its fore or hind paws, either head down or head on, either way making no difference to its digestion. It climbs along the bottom of a limb after the manner of a sloth. Its skin brings a high price. It is more easily hunted at night when a tub must be placed over it. It is then killed with an axe.”

...More recently it was also included in Gary Carden's Appalachian bestiary: North Carolina Folklore Journal (2012) who further describes it as 'disconcerting at night.'

My picture of the Hangdown also appears (uncredited) in the Fearsome Critters iceberg. (video by klidge, 2022. please credit me if you use my work in videos, argh.)

• Similar creatures: Given its near flat and fuzzy demeanour (and that it seems to like to drop down from trees onto people) it seems like a likely relative to the Rumptifusel. Perhaps a distant relative to the Australian "Drop Bear", it also coincidentally shares its namesake with the Japanese yokai, "Sagari."

This sticker art & design by @samkalensky (yo, thats me!) part of my fearsome critters collection of stickers, check my shop & follow for many more!

Hangdown - [Fearsome Critter]

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