In Latin American folklore, the Chupacabra is the creature said to attack livestock and drink their blood.
The name comes from Spanish: chupar means “to suck,” and cabras means “goats,” making chupacabra roughly “goat-sucker.” The legend emerged in Puerto Rico during the 1990s, after reports of livestock found dead with supposed puncture wounds. The story soon spread through Mexico, Central America, South America, and parts of the United States.
Descriptions vary substantially. Early Puerto Rican accounts portrayed a reptilian or alien-like animal with spines along its back, while later reports in Mexico and the United States often described a hairless, dog-like creature. Silverio Pérez, a Puerto Rican comedian and radio personality, is widely credited with popularizing or coining the name in 1995.
The blood-drinking claim has never been scientifically confirmed. Investigations of alleged American chupacabras commonly identified coyotes or dogs suffering from severe mange. That does not erase the folklore: the Chupacabra remains one of the best-known modern cryptids, blending rural livestock fears, sensational reporting, and regional storytelling. It is not the same as a vampire, Bigfoot, or another older legendary creature.