u/ConspiraSam13 — reddlx

Oil Pit Squids - In 1997, workers at a Delphi plant in Anderson, Indiana, claimed to find small squid-like creatures living in a toxic chemical sludge pit—an environment where life shouldn’t survive. One specimen was reportedly collected for testing, but mysteriously disappeared before it could be examined. Officials later suggested it was likely an unusual bacterial formation, though even inspectors admitted the sight was unlike anything they’d seen.c

Randolph County Creature - In June 1960, a farmer in Lynn, Indiana, claimed a strange octopus-like creature with clawed tentacles was living in his cistern, which he later drained to reveal the being crawling through the sludge. The story spread quickly, with added reports of animals being mysteriously harmed after contact with the water. When the cistern was drained again, the creature had vanished, and later sightings of a similar entity in a nearby lake are believed to be related.

Octo-Squatch - In the summer of 1961, a truck driver and his companion in Spain’s Basque Mountains reported encountering a small, hairy octopus-like creature on the road in front of them. The being, with glowing eyes and tentacle-like limbs, remained motionless as the men nervously approached but never left their vehicle. Eventually, they drove around the being, and by the time they told the story, no trace of the creature remained.

Lusca - The Lusca is a Caribbean sea monster legend often described as a gigantic octopus—sometimes with a shark-like head—said to reach lengths far beyond any known species. Reports claim it lives in deep caves or rugged seafloor terrain, occasionally surfacing in shallow waters and displaying abilities like color-changing. While commonly linked to an oversized octopus, some accounts portray it as a multi-headed creature, a dragon, or even a supernatural entity.

USS Stein Monster - In 1978, the USS Stein suffered severe sonar failure after encountering something massive underwater, forcing it to return to port. Inspection revealed its sonar dome was heavily damaged, with embedded hooks resembling those of a squid—but far larger than any known species. Analysis suggested the attacker could have been an enormous, previously undocumented squid, potentially reaching up to 150 feet in length.

Tako Ningyō - The Tako Ningyō, or “Octopus Doll,” is a Japanese legend from 1885 describing an octopus with a human-like head reportedly caught near Kisarazu. After being sold to a private buyer, the creature disappeared, leaving only a newspaper account as evidence. While some explanations range from spiritual possession to unusual natural causes, most consider it a likely hoax created for sensational news.

There are many more similar reports and even cases of aliens with octopus-like appearances in this Iceberg Chart as well.