El Cuero
Region of origin: Lácar Lake, Chile and Argentina
A flat, ray-like lake monster said to exist in South American bodies of water, specifically around Lácar Lake near the borders of Chile and Argentina, the cuero will leap up out of the water with incredible speed and engulf prey that ventured too close to the shoreline in its folds, smothering and consuming it. Also known as the hueke hueke, it earned the name cuero, meaning “leather,” as when laying flat it is said to resemble a splayed cow hide. There’s some speculation it may be related to fresh water rays or nudibranches.
Originally posted on Tumblr on May 13, 2016
The Compendium of Arcane Beasts and Critters 