American Bestiary

Named after the city of Loveland, Ohio, and colloquially referred to as the Loveland lizard.

Legend describes them as 4-foot-tall humanoids with leathery skin and distinct frog faces. Biological reality, verified by the recovery of a corpse, confirmed the beast was simply a large, 3.5-foot-long pet iguana that had lost its tail, giving it a stunted, frog-like appearance.

Sighted along the terrestrial roadsides and riverbanks bordering the Little Miami River in Ohio.

Initially reported to scurry across roads and crouch like a frog before standing completely erect on its hind legs to navigate guardrails. Exaggerated folklore claimed they wielded magical wands that fired sprays of sparks.

The legend achieved infamy following twin police sightings in 1972. While Officer Ray Shockey reported a monster, Officer Mark Matthews shot and killed the beast two weeks later, revealing the exotic pet hoax to the public, though the legend persists in local musicals and horror films.