Specimens 55, 56, and 57
Sex: Indeterminate. Specimen 55 is larger and has significantly longer spines than the other; our researchers hypothesize that this is a male.
Species: Chupacabra puertoricoiensis
Size: Body length is 28-35 inches, with a 34-50 inch tail
Weight: Specimens weigh in between 32 and 70 pounds.

A research team sent to observe the three surviving species of Chupacabra in the wild did not expect to encounter any remnants of the Puerto Rican species, which as the name implies is native solely to the island of Puerto Rico. Since the island had become much more developed since the initial slew of civilian sightings of a strange "reptilian, human-like creature with huge fangs and spines on its back" in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s, the research team was looking only to recover skeletal remains of what had once been a small but thriving population, but to their surprise a small troop numbering about thirteen individuals was discovered to still cling to existence in a remote patch of undisturbed forest. The team captured only three, with the hopes that the wild group could still manage to breed and continue its existence while the captive few could be put into a breeding program and supplement the wild ones. However, these beasts are difficult to track and it's hard to tell if the troop has expanded, remained the same, or died out completely. The tentative decision of the higher-ups in the research branch is to consider the Puerto Rican Chupacabra Extinct in the Wild until more evidence can be found.

The history of the Puerto Rican species of these strange little animals is well-known and convoluted. We currently believe that a great deal of the early sightings of these creatures in small suburbs and urban slums was influenced by already-held cultural stories--both Christian-based and native Carib and Taino folklore. This mixing of cultural beliefs both retained old folkloric stories of small blood-drinking predators, but Christian influences soon caused this unknown mythological figure to attain a demonic status, warping how its appearance in darkened ditches and wooded areas was interpreted by frightened humans. Hence the distorted, demonic humanoid reports. It is also possible, as with many other cryptid animals, that the Puerto Rican species has fallen victim to "Cryptid Conglomeration", where multiple unknown animals are spotted in the same area, but given the same name, and eventually the physical descriptions meld together to describe a creature that does not actually exist, but is based on a few that do.

From our DNA analysis we've determined that the closest living relatives to Chupacabras are actually even-toed ungulates, including deer, antelope, sheep and goats. From studying the physical anatomy Chupacabras appear to be a branch of the Mesonychid family of ancient carnivorous hooved mammals, making them cousins of the massive Andrewsarchus mongoliensis (the largest land-dwelling mammal predator to date). It also explains how oddly they are described, as humans seeing a creature from a taxonomic lineage they do not identify easily are known to "chimerize"--or, describe the animal based on separate features they see as most similar to a known animal. The "human hands" was an attempt to describe the long toes tipped with blunt hooves--the belly scales and spines were conceptualized as "reptilian" in the absence of knowledge that mammals, too, often have scales--and the massive head and unusually long tail were too confusing to a frightened witness, and so the interpretation of "demon-like" features appeared due to fear.

Though tales of the voraciousness and savagery of the Chupacabra have been far overblown (also due to fear), the Puerto Rican Chupacabra is known to be a more arboreal version of the Texan and Guatamalan Chupacabras. Their tails are prehensile, similar to a tree kangaroo or New World monkey's, and their hooved toes are strong and offer excellent grip on bark. They actively hunt prey rather than lay in ambush. Their usual targets are birds, primates, and arboreal reptiles, but since the arrival of humans on Puerto Rico the abundant numbers of birds and primates have decreased, causing Chupacabra to resort to poultry and livestock animals such as their namesake--goats. Contrary to popular beliefs the Chupacabra's main source of nutrition is not blood, and when eating the blood of freshly-killed prey they do not suck, but lap the blood up. It is believed that the blood of birds or mammals killed in their nightly hunts is taken out of the carcass first in order to encourage the meat to stay fresher longer--long enough for them to either lead young or elderly members of the troop to the meat, or for small enough prey long enough to make the journey back to the troop's den. Chupacabra appear to be extremely social and group-oriented, sharing all kills among the family groups and organizing den moves and hunts with utmost stealth and cooperation. Though usually only one adult Chupacabra will be spotted making a kill, other Chupacabra are also likely to be hunting within 200 yards. By all striking at once in a selected area, the odds that one or more of the troop members are successful is increased, which betters the entire family group. Their reputation of ferocity is not merited--Chupacabras tend to target prey that weigh at least 20 pounds less than themselves and rely heavily on the element of surprise. If spotted, they will spook, which typically consists of reeling back on their hind legs to give an impression of size to their alerted prey before taking the opportunity to flee. They have a similar reaction to humans, dogs, and larger livestock that they would never target. No attacks on humans of any Chupacabra species have been reported, as they will always flee if their are able (one reported attack of a mysterious creature on a Mexican teenager turned out to be not a Chupacabra but a small rabid dog).

The specimens currently residing in the Cryptozoo are shy and prefer darkened enclosures. Though timid they can be convinced to come into the open by the offering of chicken livers and necks. Since they are not easy to spot and carry a fierce reputation despite information being readily available in the facility, the group enclosure does not draw much attention from visitors.

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^^ Adorable blood-drinking Chupies. XD Awesomest little pseudo-vampires this side of the Pecos!