Mongolian Death Worm
Nomads call it 'olgoi-khorkhoi'—the intestine worm. A bright red creature that can kill from a distance, either by venom or electric shock. It lives under the sand and emerges in June and July.
The Mongolian Death Worm is one of Asia’s most feared cryptids.
The Legend
According to documented accounts, locals call this creature “olgoi-khorkhoi,” which means “intestine worm.” It is described as bright red in color, measuring 2-5 feet long, resembling a cow’s intestine in appearance, and living beneath the sand dunes of the Gobi Desert.
The Abilities
The creature allegedly possesses remarkable abilities including killing from a distance, spraying acidic venom at its victims, generating electric shocks, killing large animals like camels and horses, and emerging from the sand suddenly to attack.
The Habitat
The worm is said to live in the Gobi Desert, buried under sand dunes in remote areas. It is most active during June and July, and is often found near goyo plants according to local knowledge.
Western Discovery
Professor Roy Chapman Andrews first reported the creature to the West in 1926 after hearing stories during his paleontological expeditions in Mongolia. The locals took the creature very seriously, which prompted multiple Western expeditions to be launched over the following decades. None have been successful in capturing or definitively documenting the creature.
Modern Searches
Expeditions have included a Czech expedition in 1990, a British expedition in 2005, and various reality TV searches. Despite these efforts, no creature has been found, yet the legend persists among the Mongolian people with undiminished conviction.
The Evidence
What exists consists of consistent eyewitness accounts spanning centuries, ancient oral traditions passed down through generations, and universal belief among local populations. However, no physical evidence has ever been recovered, leaving open the possibility that this might be an undiscovered species or a cultural legend with no biological basis.