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Hugag
Variations: Rythmopes inarticulatus (Cox), Reclinor rigidus (Tryon) The Animal That Cannot Lie Down is a near-universal tale arrived at independently by multiple cultures and commonly attached to...
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Tetragnathon
Variations: Tetragnathus, Tetragnathius, Solipuga Solipaga, Salpuga, Solifuga The Tetragnathon, “four-jawed”, is described by Classical authors as a sort of phalangion, or harmful spider. It is so...
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Chimalcoatl
The Chimalcoatl, “shield snake”, is a long, thick Mexican snake. It earns its name from the fleshy, colorful shield on its back. Its appearance is an omen of death or prosperity and fortune in war,...
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Velue
Variations: Hairy Beast, Hairy One, Shaggy Beast, Shaggy One (English); Peluda (erroneously outside of Spanish writings) The Velue, the “shaggy one” or “hairy one”, is a dragon from the Huisne River,...
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Amhuluk
Variations: Amhúluk; Atunkai, Atúnkai (associated) Amhuluk is a creature associated with drowning, disease, and the malarial fog that rises from the water’s surface. The Kalapuya of the Willamette...
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Mazacoatl
The Mazacoatl, “deer snake”, is a great serpent that lives in caves on steep mountains and cliffs. It has antlers on its head and a rattle on its tail. It never leaves its lair, as it can draw in with...
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Tarasque
Variations: Tarasca, Tarasco, Tarascona, Tarasconus, Tarascus, Tirasconus, Tirascurus The story of the Tarasque is inextricable from that of Saint Martha and the southern French town of Tarascon. It...
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Pira-nu
The Pira-nu, “black fish”, is born in old timber canoes lost in the rapids. This Argentinian fish is of great size, with a horse-like head and big eyes. It swims at the surface of the water to capsize...
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Wingoc
Variations: Wing (obsolete), Wingocak (pl.), Wingwak (pl.) The Wingwak are the Algonquian spirits of sleep. A wingoc appears as a somniferous fly or butterfly, with greater numbers appearing to bedevil...
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Bifang
Variations: Bifang-bird The Bifang can be found on barren Mount Zhang’e in China. It looks like a crane but has only one leg; it has a white beak and red markings on a green background. Its call sounds...
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Guiamala
Variations: Ghiamala The Guiamala is found in the African kingdoms of Gadoua and Giaca (or Gadda and Jaka), east of the kingdom of Bambuk. It is a huge animal, taller than an elephant but not as bulky,...
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Issitôq
Issitôq, “giant eye”, is a gloomy helping spirit that appeared to the Iglulik Inuit mystic Anarqâq. As Anarqâq had just lost his parents, Issitôq consoled him. “You must not be afraid of me; I, too,...
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Tsetahotsiltali
Variations: Tse’tahotsiltali, Tse’tahotsilta’li, Tse’dahidziqa’li, Tse’daxodzi’ltali, Kicker, Kicking Monster Tsetahotsiltali, “He [who] Kicks [people] Down the Cliff”, was among the many Anaye or...
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Chemosit
Chemosit is a demonic bogey that prowls the lands of the Nandi in Kenya. Half man, half bird, Chemosit stands on a single leg and has nine buttocks. Its mouth is red and shines brightly at night like...
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The Invisible Beast, by Arnold Lobel for the Jack Prelutsky poem of the same name.
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Làlomèna
Variations: Làlimèna The Làlomèna is found in the waterways of Madagascar. It has two very red horns and looks like an ox. It is among the strongest of aquatic animals, but little more is known of its...
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Nguluka
Variations: Siani The Nguluka or Siani can be found in Malawi’s Chitipa district, specifically in the Mafinga Ridge and the Matipa Forest in the Misuku Hills. Anyone who sees it dies. A nguluka is a...
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Zulāl
Variations: Snow-worm The Zulāl or Snow-worm is a small worm, the length of a human finger, that breeds in snow. It has yellow spots. The water inside of a zulāl is cold, pure, and refreshing, so it is...
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Chang Nam
Variations: Ye Thin (Myanmar); Water Elephant The Chang Nam, or “water elephant”, is native to the jungle streams of Thailand. Its equivalent in Myanmar is called the Ye Thin. A chang nam looks like a...
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