Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been mesmerized by dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. As I got older I learned about all sorts of incredible animals from different ages of the Earth – some so fantastical it’s hard to believe we’ve actually got the fossils to prove they existed.

But in the days before a proper scientific method, or, say, cameras, how did you draw the line between fantastical real creature, and fantastical myth? Tumblr user a-book-of-creatures kicked off a wonderfully nerdy discussion with fellow zoology/cryptozoology enthusiasts on exactly that question.

Most of the facts surrounding any mythology are hard to nail down of course (because, yanno, mythology), but some of the possibilities are fascinating – and kinda funny.

It starts like a game of telephone…

Yeah, honestly… unicorns had to come from somewhere. People didn’t just invent them. And… why not rhinos? Right?

In fact, let’s take a look at a rhino.

Take a rhino… skinny it down a bit… and you’ve got yourself a unicorn!

There’s a lot left up to interpretation…

Don’t forget the impact of time!

There was a lot of weird s**t going on back in the day.

And NO internet.

So, of course people made up a bunch of craziness.

Imagine actually running into one of these beasts!

I mean…. GTFO of there, pronto!

So… that’s pretty interesting, right? Have you ever heard of these massive creatures? Or… what’s your favorite creature – real or imaginary?

Let us know in the comments and let’s nerd out with our brains out!

Do it, fam!