Mummified Creature With ‘Human-Like Hands’ Baffles Scientists in the U.S.

A rather curious discovery is capturing the attention of researchers in the United States: a mummified creature with unusual features and limbs that strangely resemble human hands was found inside an old building at Michigan State University. Since then, the specimen has become the subject of scientific analysis and speculation.

The creature was discovered in 2018 by students from the Campus Archaeology Program (CAP), who gave it the nickname “Capacabra” — a playful combination of chupacabra, the legendary creature from Latin American folklore, and the CAP acronym.

Anatomy That Raises Eyebrows

Roughly the size of a small cat, the creature has a long, thin tail and a body shape that resembles feline species. But what truly surprised researchers were its limbs: five fingers, nails, and a structure strikingly similar to human hands. “It’s almost humanoid,” described Jerielle Cartales, a PhD student at the University of Dundee in Scotland, in an interview with the Daily Mail.

Despite being heavily mummified, the body still retains some soft tissue, visible teeth, a dried-out nose, and ears. The skeleton is nearly intact, but its preserved state has made it difficult to conclusively identify the species.

A Mystery Lost in Time

According to Cartales, it’s still unclear how long the creature had been in the location where it was found. “It could’ve been there for a month, or even 50 years — we really don’t know,” she explained. Radiocarbon dating was considered, but since the building was constructed in 1889, that sets a limit on how far back the sample can be dated.

Speculation Around Its Identity

Various theories about the creature’s origins have emerged. It was initially thought to be an opossum, but this was dismissed after early examination. Other candidates include cats, dogs, and raccoons.

“We explored several possibilities. At first, we thought it might be a dog or a cat, but now my gut tells me it could be a raccoon,” said Cartales. Radiographic comparisons with known species haven’t produced an exact match, but some skeletal similarities suggest the raccoon is a strong contender.

Ongoing Investigation

The team continues to conduct analyses, including X-ray imaging and comparisons with other animal skeletons. While a definitive identification has yet to be made, the raccoon remains the leading hypothesis.

“A raccoon has a similarly shaped skull and snout. As a scientist, I never say anything with 100% certainty, but I’m about 75% sure it’s a raccoon. That said, there’s still more work to do,” Cartales concluded.

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