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Great South Bay Giant Horseshoe Crab
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The Great South Bay Giant Horseshoe Crab (Limulus giganticus) is a cryptid from Long Island, New York, United States, and specifically Fire Island and the communities of the Great South Bay, described as a gigantic eight-foot-long horseshoe crab. The creature was popularized by a widely shared April Fools' Day article published by a local newspaper called Fire Island & Great South Bay News/ Description The newspaper article that introduced the organism to the public described the animal as "resembling a gigantic 8-foot-long horseshoe crab." The giant invertebrates were also described as "longer than a surfboard and three times as wide.” In coloration, some of the individuals are described as "neon yellow" while others are described as "the more typical brown," with one eyewitness account describing individuals of opposite colors engaging in courtship behaviors. Supposed sightings The article lists eight supposed sightings saying "community members come from all walks of life," including "fishermen, hikers, lifelong Fire Island residents, and even a park ranger," but it only goes into detail about three. One from Jem Patterson of Bay Shore is described as having seen the animal while hiking along the bay. Another from a fisherman, identified as Bobby, describes accidentally hooking the creature and losing his favorite fishing rod to it. A third is from an anonymous Fire Island National Seashore park ranger and details the ranger viewing mating behavior. Explanation The possible explanations listed for the eyewitness accounts of the creature included that it may be "a genuine new species, a freak mutation of the well-known Atlantic horseshoe crab, a new Great South Bay and Fire Island cryptid akin to our own Loch Ness Monster, a mass hallucination, or a simple April Fools’ prank." The text at the bottom of the article reading "Happy April Fools Day" implies that the article was indeed intended as a light-hearted joke rather than as a serious article or genuine attempt at a hoax. 
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