Clik here to view.
Nanabolele
Variations: Dinanabolele, Linanabolele (pl.) Thakáne and her two brothers were the children of a Basotho chief. In some versions there is only one brother, Masilo; in some retellings the siblings are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Moskitto
Moskittos are a cautionary tale about the perils of introducing invasive species. They originated with the Chippewa River mosquitos, which were large enough to straddle a stream, pick lumberjacks off...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Grand’Goule
Variations: Grand’Gueule, Grande Goule, Grande Gueule; Bonne Sainte Vermine (Good Holy Vermin) The Grand’Goule (corrupted from grande gueule, “great gullet” or more simply “big mouth”) is one of many...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nakshatra Meenu
Nakshatra Meenu means “sea star” or “brittle star” in the Kannada language of Karnataka, India. In the 16th century, an army of giant brittle stars came out of the sea to invade the land. The biggest...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Namungumi
Variations: Nalumgumi; Liporo (possibly); Napolo (possibly) The Namungumi or Nalumgumi, usually translated to “whale”, features in the initiation ceremonies of the Yao people of Malawi, Mozambique,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Alber
The Floitenthal, near the Ziller Valley in the Tyrol, has two great mountains, the Floitenthurm and the Teufelseck. The latter, the “Devil’s Corner”, is so name because the devil himself is said to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Zankallala
The Zankallala is a terrifyingly mighty creature from the folklore of the Hausa people. He is only the size of two clenched fists, but he wields a snake as a walking-stick, a pair of scorpions as...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Moha-Moha
Variations: Moha, Great Barrier Sea-serpent, Great Barrier Reef Sea-serpent, Chelosauria lovelli The Moha-Moha was seen on a beach on Great Sandy Island by schoolteacher Selina Lovell and a small...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Skvader
The Skvader is a taxidermist’s chimera found in Sundsvall, in the Swedish province of Medelpad. It is a winged hare, combining the skins of a European hare and a capercaillie. The original skvader was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rô
Variations: Ro, Bete-Rô, Bete-Ro, Bete Rô, Bete Ro (Rô Beast) The Rô Beast lived in a cavern at the Pointe de Roux, off Aytré near La Rochelle. A hideous dragon with a winged body and a long scaly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Treesqueak
Variations: Arborexusta stridens (Tryon), Tree-squeak Treesqueaks make a whole variety of sounds, including vocalizations that evoke the wind in the trees, a cougar’s whine, a piglet’s squeal, and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Grootslang
Variations: Groot Slang, Big Snake, Great Snake, Great Snake of the Orange River, Ki-man The Grootslang, literally “big snake” or “great snake”, dwells in or around the Orange River in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lili
Variations: Li-wildcat, Powercat The Lili or Powercat can be found around Willow Mountain in China. It barks like a dog and looks like a pig with spurs on its feet. Its appearance foretells...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wolpertinger
Variations: Oibadrischl (Germany), Rasselbock (Thuringia), Dilldapp The Wolpertinger is a taxidermist’s chimera native to Bavaria, known since the 16th century. It has fangs, wings, and deer’s antlers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sazae-oni
Variations: Horned Turban Shell Demon The Sazae-oni was first formally described by Toriyama Sekien in his first volume on “The Illustrated Horde of Haunted Housewares”. He gives it a philosophical...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nykur
Variations: Nykur Hestur (Nykur Horse), Nickur; Nennir, Ninnir (Ninny); Flóðhestur (Hippopotamus); Kumbur (Clump); Skolli (Devil); Vatnaskratti (Water Fiend) The Nykur or Nennir is the water-horse of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Qique
Variations: Qi-magpie, Qidui “Where does the Qi-magpie dwell?” asks the Questions of Heaven. According to the Shan Hai Jing it makes its home on North Shouting Mountain. It looks like a chicken with a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pontarof
Variations: Tebuch, Thébuch, Tebuch Pontarof Thevet tells of a West Indian fish called the Tebuch, Thébuch, or Pontarof, which means “robber fish” or “evil fish”. A pontarof is the size of a porpoise...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wakmangganchi Aragondi
Variations: Wakmabitchi Warak Wakkimbi (“Primordial Head of the Strong-Teethed Swine Family”) Wakmangganchi Aragondi was the greatest and most terrifying monster in the folklore of the Garo people of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Questing Beast
Variations: Beste Glapissante; Beste Glatissant, Bête Glatissante, Glatisant Beast; Beste Diverse, Bête Diverse, Diverse Beste, Diverse Beast; Besta Ladrador, Besta Desasemelhada (Portuguese, from the...
View Article