Mythical Creatures by Country 2024

Country	Mythical Creature Name	Brief Description	Detailed Description
Afghanistan	Al	Demon	They have clay noses and fiery eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone."
Albania	Dev	Monstrous ogre-like creatures	Giants with two horns.
Algeria	Al-Rhuban	Half-human, half-jinn	A human by appearance, but with pale skin, long fingers, blue eyes and yellow eyelashes. Always keeps hands in its pockets.
Andorra	Vibria	Wicked dragon	A female dragon depicted as "having exposed female breasts, a long and fiery tongue protruding from an eagle-beak, scale covered body, a serpentine tail and wings.'
Angola	Kongamato	Large pterosaur-like creature	It is described as a reddish lizard with membranous wings and teeth in its beak. Its wingspan ranges from 4 to 100 feet across.
Antigua and Barbuda	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature
Argentina	Nahuelito	Lake Monster	A sea serpent described similarly to a plesiosaur.
Armenia	Dev	Monstrous ogre-like creatures	Giants with two horns.
Australia	Bunyip	Mysterious monster	Bunyips live in Australian billabongs and swamps, and stories of their appearance are highly varied. The most commonly described features include a dog-like face and clawed flippers. The bunyip is occasionally compared to a manatee or hippopotamus. In some of the older legends, they are described as attacking and devouring humans.Carl Lumholtz, a Norwegian explorer who travelled extensively in Australia, described the bunyip as “a mammal of considerable size…a monster with countless eyes and ears…He has sharp claws, and can run so fast that it is difficult to escape him."
Austria	Krampus	Demon who punishes misbehaving children	Horned half-goat half-demon.
Azerbaijan	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Bahamas	Rolling Calf	A monstrous bull wrapped in chains	A huge ghost in the shape of a cow, fiery eyes and wrapped in a chain.
Bahrain	Bū Daryā	Giant merfolk creature	Bū Daryā was seen as a terrifying and colossal half-human half-amphibian who preyed on those out at sea.
Bangladesh	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Barbados	Duppy	An undead spirit	Ghostly spirits, somewhat similar to their former earthly forms.
Belarus	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
Belgium	Gnome	Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.	A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man.
Belize	Tata Duende	Grandfather Demon,' a mischief maker	An old mischievious character who is very short, has backward feet, wears a tall pointy hat, and has both thumbs missing.
Benin	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Bhutan	Yeti	Bigfoot-like creature	Bigfoot-like tall humanoid, covered in pale fur or hair.
Bolivia	Acalica	Weather-controlling fairies	said to control the weather, live in caves, and are very rarely seen. When they do appear they are said to take the form of small, wizened men.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Tur	Giant bull	A giant bull that lives underground, causing earthquakes.........
Botswana	Tokiloshe	Dwarf-like water sprite	Small water sprites, withered and gray, with gouged-out eyesand a hole in its skull.
Brazil	Curupira	A dwarf covered in bright orange hair	a creature with bright red/orange hair that resembles a man or a dwarf. Curupira has a very unique trait: his feet are turned backwards.
Brunei	Genali	Giant serpent	The creature that finally emerged from the river was huge, limbless and covered in scales. It was a snake, but one so overgrown they called it a dragon.
Bulgaria	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.
Burkina Faso	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Burundi	Gustave	Legendary crocodile	Massive Nile crocodile that was long considered a myth; estimated to be over 18 feet long and more than 2000 pounds.
Cambodia	Chinthe	Lion-like creature	A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).
Cameroon	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Canada	Windigo	Powerful monsters with a desire to kil and eat people	Varies, but one version of the windigo has pointed or animal-like ears with antlers or horns sprouting on its head.
Cape Verde	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Central African Republic	Mokele-mbembe	Dinosaur-like creature	Described as some kind of dinosaur, seemingly akin to the brontosaurus.
Chad	Auli	Water creature	An animal the size of a sheep that lives in Lake Chad, resembling a manatee.
Chile	Basilisco Chilote	Serpentine monster	Serpentine monster with crest of a rooster.
China	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Colombia	Tunda	Shapeshifter	A shapeshifter with a visible flaw - it has a wooden leg that it cannot shapeshift.
Comoros	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Costa Rica	Cadejo	Canine spirits that appear to travelers at night	Large, shaggy dogs with burning eyes and goats hooves a white one (helpful) and a black one (dangerous).
Croatia	Krampus	Demon who punishes misbehaving children	Horned half-goat half-demon.
Cuba	Madre de Aguas	A giant boa snake	A giant boa snake wide as a palm tree, with two horns on its head, that inhabits rivers and lakes.
Cyprus	Centaur	Greek mythological creature with upper body of a human and lower body of a horse	The upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse.
Czech Republic	Golem	A clay automaton brought to life by magic	A hulking humanoid statue made from clay and animated by magic.
Denmark	Neck	Water spirit	Always male in Belgium, the neck has a human head, chest, and arms, but a horse-like body undr the water.
Djibouti	Shaitan	Demons	depicted as ugly and grotesque creatures of hell-fire.
Dominica	El bacá	Evil creature that people conjure to get wealth and property	Among other forms, it can take the form of a large black dog, cat or bull.
Dominican Republic	Ciguapa	Hag-like creatures that inhabit the high mountains of the Domincan Republic	Theyi appear as human females, sometimes with blue skin, with long manes of glossy hair that cover their bodies, and backward-facing feet.
DR Congo	Eloko	Malicious dwarf race	An Eloko has grass for a beard, clothes made of leaves, and usually carries a bell, which is used to attract and bewitch unsuspecting humans.
Ecuador	Water Tiger	Four-legged, fanged water monster	cryptid river or lake monsters reported from parts of South America, principally the Guianas, almost always described as aquatic tusked animals. Cryptozoologists speculate they may be living sabre-toothed cats, forming a parallel with the African water lions,[3][4] or some form of giant otter.
Egypt	Griffin	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.
El Salvador	Cuyancúa	A half-pig, half-snake	A creature with the upper body of a pig and the hindquarters of a snake.
Equatorial Guinea	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Eritrea	Zar	Human-possessing spirit	Invisible spirits that possess the living.
Estonia	Giant	Beings of human appearance, prodigious in size	Giants vary in size, but are always humanoids who are vastly taller and larger then humans.
Eswatini	Nyanyabulembu	The Moss-Green Princess	a hideous beast with a moss green hide.
Ethiopia	Holawaka	Legendary bird	A colorful, mythical bird.
Fiji	Dakuwaqa	Shark god, protector of the ocean	He was a shape-shifter and had the ability to morph into anything, even human beings. He was most ferocious in his natural state, a sleek yet powerful shark.
Finland	Haltija	Elf-like creatures that provide the inspiration for Santa's elves	Small and human-like, they are the origin of the Santa elf myth and image.
France	Gargoyle	Winged stone creatures that scare away evil	Winged, stone-skinned monstrosities that perch in high places.
Gabon	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Gambia	Kikiyaon	Owl-headed flying monster	It is described as resembling a large owl, especially its head. It has a huge beak and raking talons on its arms and feet. In many respects it is a mixture of bird and human. The Bambara people say it has a huge pair of feathered wings which grow from its back; the shoulder joint of which is tipped with a sharp spur, a deadly weapon if its talons fail. The most terrifying feature is the presence of razor sharp talons, much like those of a large owl, at the end of well-muscled legs.
Georgia	Devi	Three-headed giants	These ogre-like creatures are covered in hair and have horns and several heads (from three up to a hundred).
Germany	Dwarves	Entity that dwells in mountains and in the earth and is variously associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting	Dwarfs in folklore are usually described as old men with long beards.
Ghana	Adze	Vampiric firefly	In the wild, the adze takes the form of a firefly.
Greece	Griffin	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.
Grenada	La Diablesse	Shape-shifting hag spirit	A hideously-faced hag, who hides her face with alarge brimmed hat and long dress.
Guatemala	Camazotz	A gigantic monster bat	Giant bats with long, protruding fangs, that stand upright like a person, their wings decorated with ornaments like human bones.
Guinea	jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Guyana	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature.
Haiti	Loup Garou	Sorcerers with the power to transform into wolves	Similar to the classic werewolf legend, although they can transform intoi other kinds of animals as well.
Honduras	El Picudo	A beast-like creature that drinks the blood of animals	Creature with a dog's body and a pig's face.
Hong Kong	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Hungary	Ördög	Shapeshifting demonic creature	Ördög is often thought to look somewhat like a satyr or faun, a humanoid with the upper torso of a human male and lower portions of a goat; usually pitch-black, with cloven hooves, ram-like horns, a long tail ending in a blade; and he carries a pitchfork.
Iceland	Huldufólk (elves)	Elf-like creatures	Large in build, their clothes are all grey, and their hair black. Their dwellings are in mounds, and they are also called elves.
India	Shesha	Great snake that supports the world	A great snake that holds all the planets of the universe on its folds.
Indonesia	Orang Pendek	Ape-like biped	A ground-dwelling, bipedal primate that is covered in short fur and stands between 80 and 150 cm (30 and 60 in) tall.
Iran	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Iraq	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Ireland	Leprechaun	Fairy-like creatures	A leprechaun usually taking the form of an old man with red or white beard, clad in a red or green coat. Popular depiction shows the leprechaun as being no taller than a small child, with a beard and hat, sitting on a toadstool.
Israel	Leviathan	Sea monster	In the Old Testament, Leviathan appears in Psalms 74:14 as a multiheaded sea serpent that is killed by God and given as food to the Hebrews in the wilderness.
Italy	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.
Ivory Coast	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Jamaica	Rolling Calf	A monstrous bull wrapped in chains	A huge ghost in the shape of a cow, fiery eyes and wrapped in a chain.
Japan	Wani	A sea dragon	Wani are sea monsters that live in deep bodies of water. They have long, serpentine bodies, fins, and can breathe both air and water. Wani are able to shapeshift into humans, and there are even tales of wani and humans falling in love.
Jordan	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Kazakhstan	Tulpar	Pegasus	A winged horse similar to the pegasus.
Kenya	Nandi bear	A ferocious bear-like beast	Descriptions of the Nandi bear are of a ferocious, powerfully built carnivore with high front shoulders (over four feet tall) and a sloping back. Stories of the Nandi bear state that it is fierce, nocturnal, stands on its hind legs and can kill animals.
Kiribati	Te Toa mai Matang	A giant	A giant who was very strong, and had a spear.
Kuwait	Tantal	Ghost that kidnaps children at night	A tall black man, of three meters in height, with disheveled hair whose feetseps were audibly heavy. He would roam around in the dead of night, holding a large staff or cane which he would use to strike his victims.
Kyrgyzstan	Tulpar	Pegasus	A winged horse similar to the pegasus.
Laos	Phaya Naga	Dragon-like river serpent	Serpent-like creatures, believed by locals to live in the Mekong river or estuaries. Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths.
Latvia	Werewolf	A person who transforms into a wolf	When werewolves were in their animal form, it is said that there are surprisingly few differences between the creature and an actual wolf. One of the biggest indicators of a werewolf would be the absence of a tail – though Swedish folklore suggests that some werewolves ran on three legs and held their fourth leg out behind them to appear like a normal wolf from a distance. It was also thought that werewolves had human eyes and voices.
Lebanon	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Lesotho	Dragon	Giant serpent-like creatures inhabiting the local mountains	Giant serpent-like creatures inhabiting the local mountains.
Liberia	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Libya	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Liechtenstein	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.
Lithuania	Vampire	Blood-drinkers who prey on humans	Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow
Luxembourg	Gnome	Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.	A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man.
Macau	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Madagascar	Antamba	Dog-like creature	A dog-sized animal with a round head, resembling a leopard, and is said to kill both cattle and people.
Malawi	Nyuvwira	Multi-headed snake	A nyuvwira has eight heads and is the largest snake in the world. It generates electricity and lights at night. It lives underground, which is fortunate as it is extremely toxic.
Malaysia	Abath	Unicorn-like creature	Described as female, with a single horn growing from its forehead, it is speculated that these were probably the result of a half-glimpsed Javan or Sumatran rhinoceros.
Mali	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Malta	Giant	Beings of human appearance, prodigious in size	Giants vary in size, but are always humanoids who are vastly taller and larger then humans.
Marshall Islands	mermaid	Part human, part fish sea creatures	An aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish.
Mauritania	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Mauritius	Soucouyant	Witch	An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.
Mexico	Quetzalcoatl	Feathered Serpent	A giant magical serpent covered in green feathers. Many depictions incorrectly attribute wings to it.
Micronesia	Nei Tituaabine	Tree goddess	Is a red-haired maiden in Micronesian mythology, specifically in Kiribati. She fell in love with the giant haired-skinned chief, Auriaria, but they had no children. After her death, three trees grew from her grave: a coconut from her head, a pandanus from her heels and an almond from her navel.
Moldova	Balaur	Type of dragon	A balaur is a creature in Moldavian andRomanian folklore, similar to a European dragon. This creature is quite large, has fins, feet, and it usually has three, sometimes seven, or even twelve serpent heads.
Monaco	Dames blanches	Female spirits	Hey hold the appearance of beautiful ladies with long hair and, as their name indicated, they wear white gowns. In certain stories, they seem to hold certain resemblances to the Irish Banshees.
Mongolia	Alma	Humanoid creature	Almases are typically described as human-like bipedal animals, between five and six and a half feet tall, their bodies covered with reddish-brown hair, with anthropomorphic facial features including a pronounced browridge, flat nose, and a weak chin.
Montenegro	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.
Morocco	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Mozambique	Shetani	Devil-like creatures	Physically, shetani of various types appear as distorted human and animal figures.
Myanmar	Chinthe	LIon-like creature	A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).
Namibia	Namibian Flying Snake	Gargantuan flying serpent	Described as a gargantuan serpent, yellow, brown with light spots, black, a bioluminescent crest, horns, a neck that can inflate and deflate, and leathery bat-like wings.
Nauru	Areop-Enap	Spider-god of creation	An old spider.
Nepal	Yeti	Humanoid creature	Bigfoot-like tall humanoid, covered in pale fur or hair.
Netherlands	Gnome	Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.	A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man.
New Zealand	Taniwha	Power water beings	At sea, a taniwha often appears as a whale or as quite a large shark;[4] compare the Māori name for the Great white shark: mangō-taniwha. In inland waters, they may still be of whale-like dimensions, but look more like a gecko or a tuatara, having a row of spines along the back.
Nicaragua	La Carretanagua	A ghostly caravan of ox carts	Those have ‘seen’ this mysterious entourage of oxen and lost souls say that it moves quickly and is unable to turn corners due to is cross shape, simply disappearing as it reaches the end of a road.
Niger	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Nigeria	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
North Korea	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
North Macedonia	Vampire	Blood-drinkers who prey on humans	Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow
Norway	Troll	Large, rock-like giants	Unlike their forest-dwelling cousins, cave trolls live completely underground and are generally depicted as smaller than humans with a large round abdomen and short stubby arms and legs. These are more akin to the trolls that help Queen Elsa in Frozen.
Oman	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Pakistan	Barmanou	Yeti-like creature	The Barmanou allegedly possesses both human and apelike characteristics and has a reputation for abducting women and attempting to mate with them. It is also reported to wear animal skins upon its back and head. The Barmanou appears in the folklore of the Northern Regions of Pakistan and depending on where the stories come from it tends to be either described as an ape or a wild man.
Palau	Areop-Enap	Spider-god of creation	An old spider.
Palestine	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Panama	Cadejo	Canine spirits that appear to travelers at night	Large, shaggy dogs with burning eyes and goats hooves a white one (helpful) and a black one (dangerous).
Papua New Guinea	New Guinea Tiger	Mysterious cat	A lion-sized cat.
Paraguay	Teju Jagua	Multi-headed dog-lizard	A huge lizard with seven dog heads and eyes that shoot fire.
Peru	Muki	Goblin-like monster that inhabits mines	Small, brawny creature with pointy ears, long white beards, carries mining lantern.
Philippines	Aswang	Shapeshifters	Aswang is an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil spirits in Filipino folklore, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and werebeasts (usually dogs, cats, pigs).
Poland	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.
Portugal	Coco	Spirit that abducts children	It is not the way the Coco looks but what it does that scares most. It is a child eater and a kidnapper; it may immediately devour the child, leaving no trace, or it may spirit the child away to a place of no return, but it only does this to disobedient children. It is on the lookout for children's misbehavior from the rooftops; it takes the shape of any dark shadow and stays watching. It represents the opposite of the guardian angel and is frequently compared to the devil. Others see the Coco as a representation of the deceased of the local community.
Qatar	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Republic of the Congo	Emela-ntouka	Monstrous beast, killer of elephants	described as a hairless elephant-sized animal with a crocodile-like tail and a large horn on its nose.
Romania	Balaur	Type of dragon	A balaur is a creature in Moldavian and Romanian folklore, similar to a European dragon. This creature is quite large, has fins, feet, and it usually has three, sometimes seven, or even twelve serpent heads.
Russia	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.
Rwanda	Nandi bear	A ferocious bear-like beast	Descriptions of the Nandi bear are of a ferocious, powerfully built carnivore with high front shoulders (over four feet tall) and a sloping back. Stories of the Nandi bear state that it is fierce, nocturnal, stands on its hind legs and can kill animals.
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature.
Saint Lucia	Soucouyant	Witch	An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature.
Samoa	Aitu	Ghosts
San Marino	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.
Sao Tome and Principe	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Saudi Arabia	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Senegal	Kikiyaon	Owl-headed flying monster	It is described as resembling a large owl, especially its head. It has a huge beak and raking talons on its arms and feet. In many respects it is a mixture of bird and human. The Bambara people say it has a huge pair of feathered wings which grow from its back; the shoulder joint of which is tipped with a sharp spur, a deadly weapon if its talons fail. The most terrifying feature is the presence of razor sharp talons, much like those of a large owl, at the end of well-muscled legs.
Serbia	Vampire	Blood-drinkers who prey on humans	Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow.
Seychelles	Songoula	Ape-like creature	A monkey or ape like figure, possibly a small man in Seychellois folklore.
Sierra Leone	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Singapore	Merlion	Aquatic creature	Mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish.
Slovakia	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.
Slovenia	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.
Solomon Islands	Adaro	Merfolk	An adaro is described as a man with gills behind his ears, tail fins for feet, a horn like a shark's dorsal fin, and a swordfish or sawfish-like spear growing out of his head.
Somalia	Ayaanle	Benevolent spirits	Good spirits and acted as mediators between God and humans.
South Africa	Tokiloshe	Dwarf-like water sprite	Small water sprites, withered and gray, with gouged-out eyesand a hole in its skull.
South Korea	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
South Sudan	Lau	River monster	Large, carnivorous, tentacled dinosaur-like creature.
Spain	Coco	Spirit that abducts children	It is not the way the Coco looks but what it does that scares most. It is a child eater and a kidnapper; it may immediately devour the child, leaving no trace, or it may spirit the child away to a place of no return, but it only does this to disobedient children. It is on the lookout for children's misbehavior from the rooftops; it takes the shape of any dark shadow and stays watching. It represents the opposite of the guardian angel and is frequently compared to the devil. Others see the Coco as a representation of the deceased of the local community.
Sri Lanka	Chinthe	Lion-like creature	A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).
Sudan	Bouda	Were-hyena	In Ethiopia, it is traditionally believed that every blacksmith, whose trade is hereditary, is really a wizard or witch with the power to change into a hyena. These blacksmith werehyenas are believed to rob graves at midnight and are referred to as bouda.
Suriname	Asema	A vampire-like witch	Appears at night as a ball of blue light.
Sweden	Elf	Beautiful, magical creatures that inhabit forests	An elf has a beautiful and seductive appearance, while being able to do magic and illusions. There are different types of elf that have been described;half transparent spirit, adult women sizes and small fairy sizes. There is a common saying in Sweden, which is ‘the elves are dancing in the mist’, as elves are associated with the mist.
Switzerland	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire........
Syria	Roc	Gigantic bird	Legendary birds big enough to carry off an elephant.
Taiwan	mô-sîn-á	Small fairies or devils	Taiwan’s mô-sîn-á are usually believed to be small in stature. They are thought to be hobbit-like creatures—nimble and often appear like small children.
Tajikistan	Al	Demon	They have clay noses and fiery eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone.
Tanzania	Popobawa	Gigantic bat with one eye	Popobawa is a shapeshifter and described as taking different forms, not just that of a bat as its name implies. It can take either human or animal form, and metamorphose from one into the other. It frequently is depicted with only one eye.
Thailand	Phaya Naga	Dragon-like river serpent	Serpent-like creatures, believed by locals to live in the Mekong river or estuaries. Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths.
Timor Leste	Brother Crocodile	Revered crocodiles who created the island	An immense crocodile.
Togo	Adze	Vampiric firefly	In the wild, the adze takes the form of a firefly,
Tonga	Takuaka	Shark god	He was a shape-shifter and had the ability to morph into anything, even human beings. He was most ferocious in his natural state, a sleek yet powerful shark.
Trinidad and Tobago	Soucouyant	Witch	An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.
Tunisia	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Turkey	Dragon	Immense mythical serpents	Also expressed as a snake or lizard, is the symbol of might and power.
Turkmenistan	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Tuvalu	te Pusi mo te Ali	The Eel and the Flounder	An eel and a flounder fish are said to be the creators of their islands.
Uganda	Lukwata	Lake monster	It has been described as 20–30 feet long, with dark smooth skin and a rounded head, and known to attack fishermen and boats.
Ukraine	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.
United Arab Emirates	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
United States	Sasquatch	Bipedal, hairy humanoid that is said to live in deep forests	Hairy humanoid, extremely tall with large feet.
Uruguay	Luison	Werewolf	The name of Luison is a variation of Lobizón, a name used in Argentina and Uruguay to describe the werewolf or a similar creature, which is itself a variation of the Brazilian name for the werewolf, Lobisomem, more literally wolf-man.
Uzbekistan	Simurgh	Phoenix-like bird	The simurgh is depicted in Iranian art as a winged creature in the shape of a bird, gigantic enough to carry off an elephant or a whale. It appears as a peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion – sometimes, however, also with a human face.
Vanuatu	Abaia	Magical eel	A huge, magical eel.
Venezuela	Wako	Cave-digging, fanged monsters	The Wako are tsawekuri, animal spirits in the folklore of the Cuiva of Colombia and Venezuela. They look like pacas, with spots and long vicious fangs. Wako dig caves with many small exits and hiding-places, and live there in large numbers.
Vietnam	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Yemen	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Zambia	Kongamato	Large lizard with leathery bat wings	It is described as a reddish lizard with membranous wings and teeth in its beak. Its wingspan ranges from 4 to 100 feet across. When shown a picture of a pterosaur, natives said that it was a picture of a kongamato.
Zimbabwe	Nyaminyami	Snakelike river spirit	Variously described as having the body of a snake and the head of a fish, a whirlpool or a river dragon, the Nyami Nyami is seen as the god of Zambezi Valley and the river before the creation of the Kariba Dam. The Nyami Nyami is regularly depicted as a snake-like being or dragon-like creature with a snake's torso and the head of a fish.

Al

Demon

They have clay noses and fiery eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone."

Albania

Dev

Monstrous ogre-like creatures

Giants with two horns.

Algeria

Al-Rhuban

Half-human, half-jinn

A human by appearance, but with pale skin, long fingers, blue eyes and yellow eyelashes. Always keeps hands in its pockets.

Andorra

Vibria

Wicked dragon

A female dragon depicted as "having exposed female breasts, a long and fiery tongue protruding from an eagle-beak, scale covered body, a serpentine tail and wings.'

Angola

Kongamato

Large pterosaur-like creature

It is described as a reddish lizard with membranous wings and teeth in its beak. Its wingspan ranges from 4 to 100 feet across.

Antigua and Barbuda

Jumbee

A dark, shadowy malevolent entity

A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature

Argentina

Nahuelito

Lake Monster

A sea serpent described similarly to a plesiosaur.

Armenia

Dev

Monstrous ogre-like creatures

Giants with two horns.

Australia

Bunyip

Mysterious monster

Bunyips live in Australian billabongs and swamps, and stories of their appearance are highly varied. The most commonly described features include a dog-like face and clawed flippers. The bunyip is occasionally compared to a manatee or hippopotamus. In some of the older legends, they are described as attacking and devouring humans.Carl Lumholtz, a Norwegian explorer who travelled extensively in Australia, described the bunyip as “a mammal of considerable size…a monster with countless eyes and ears…He has sharp claws, and can run so fast that it is difficult to escape him."

Austria

Krampus

Demon who punishes misbehaving children

Horned half-goat half-demon.

Azerbaijan

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Bahamas

Rolling Calf

A monstrous bull wrapped in chains

A huge ghost in the shape of a cow, fiery eyes and wrapped in a chain.

Bahrain

Bū Daryā

Giant merfolk creature

Bū Daryā was seen as a terrifying and colossal half-human half-amphibian who preyed on those out at sea.

Bangladesh

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Barbados

Duppy

An undead spirit

Ghostly spirits, somewhat similar to their former earthly forms.

Belarus

Baba Yaga

Witch

A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs

Belgium

Gnome

Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.

A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man.

Belize

Tata Duende

Grandfather Demon,' a mischief maker

An old mischievious character who is very short, has backward feet, wears a tall pointy hat, and has both thumbs missing.

Benin

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Bhutan

Yeti

Bigfoot-like creature

Bigfoot-like tall humanoid, covered in pale fur or hair.

Bolivia

Acalica

Weather-controlling fairies

said to control the weather, live in caves, and are very rarely seen. When they do appear they are said to take the form of small, wizened men.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tur

Giant bull

A giant bull that lives underground, causing earthquakes.........

Botswana

Tokiloshe

Dwarf-like water sprite

Small water sprites, withered and gray, with gouged-out eyesand a hole in its skull.

Brazil

Curupira

A dwarf covered in bright orange hair

a creature with bright red/orange hair that resembles a man or a dwarf. Curupira has a very unique trait: his feet are turned backwards.

Brunei

Genali

Giant serpent

The creature that finally emerged from the river was huge, limbless and covered in scales. It was a snake, but one so overgrown they called it a dragon.

Bulgaria

Baba Yaga

Witch

A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.

Burkina Faso

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Burundi

Gustave

Legendary crocodile

Massive Nile crocodile that was long considered a myth; estimated to be over 18 feet long and more than 2000 pounds.

Cambodia

Chinthe

Lion-like creature

A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).

Cameroon

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Canada

Windigo

Powerful monsters with a desire to kil and eat people

Varies, but one version of the windigo has pointed or animal-like ears with antlers or horns sprouting on its head.

Cape Verde

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Central African Republic

Mokele-mbembe

Dinosaur-like creature

Described as some kind of dinosaur, seemingly akin to the brontosaurus.

Chad

Auli

Water creature

An animal the size of a sheep that lives in Lake Chad, resembling a manatee.

Chile

Basilisco Chilote

Serpentine monster

Serpentine monster with crest of a rooster.

China

Dragon

Supernatural serpent

In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.

Colombia

Tunda

Shapeshifter

A shapeshifter with a visible flaw - it has a wooden leg that it cannot shapeshift.

Comoros

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Costa Rica

Cadejo

Canine spirits that appear to travelers at night

Large, shaggy dogs with burning eyes and goats hooves a white one (helpful) and a black one (dangerous).

Croatia

Krampus

Demon who punishes misbehaving children

Horned half-goat half-demon.

Cuba

Madre de Aguas

A giant boa snake

A giant boa snake wide as a palm tree, with two horns on its head, that inhabits rivers and lakes.

Cyprus

Centaur

Greek mythological creature with upper body of a human and lower body of a horse

The upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse.

Czech Republic

Golem

A clay automaton brought to life by magic

A hulking humanoid statue made from clay and animated by magic.

Denmark

Neck

Water spirit

Always male in Belgium, the neck has a human head, chest, and arms, but a horse-like body undr the water.

Djibouti

Shaitan

Demons

depicted as ugly and grotesque creatures of hell-fire.

Dominica

El bacá

Evil creature that people conjure to get wealth and property

Among other forms, it can take the form of a large black dog, cat or bull.

Dominican Republic

Ciguapa

Hag-like creatures that inhabit the high mountains of the Domincan Republic

Theyi appear as human females, sometimes with blue skin, with long manes of glossy hair that cover their bodies, and backward-facing feet.

DR Congo

Eloko

Malicious dwarf race

An Eloko has grass for a beard, clothes made of leaves, and usually carries a bell, which is used to attract and bewitch unsuspecting humans.

Ecuador

Water Tiger

Four-legged, fanged water monster

cryptid river or lake monsters reported from parts of South America, principally the Guianas, almost always described as aquatic tusked animals. Cryptozoologists speculate they may be living sabre-toothed cats, forming a parallel with the African water lions,[3][4] or some form of giant otter.

Egypt

Griffin

A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion

A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.

El Salvador

Cuyancúa

A half-pig, half-snake

A creature with the upper body of a pig and the hindquarters of a snake.

Equatorial Guinea

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Eritrea

Zar

Human-possessing spirit

Invisible spirits that possess the living.

Estonia

Giant

Beings of human appearance, prodigious in size

Giants vary in size, but are always humanoids who are vastly taller and larger then humans.

Eswatini

Nyanyabulembu

The Moss-Green Princess

a hideous beast with a moss green hide.

Ethiopia

Holawaka

Legendary bird

A colorful, mythical bird.

Fiji

Dakuwaqa

Shark god, protector of the ocean

He was a shape-shifter and had the ability to morph into anything, even human beings. He was most ferocious in his natural state, a sleek yet powerful shark.

Finland

Haltija

Elf-like creatures that provide the inspiration for Santa's elves

Small and human-like, they are the origin of the Santa elf myth and image.

France

Gargoyle

Winged stone creatures that scare away evil

Winged, stone-skinned monstrosities that perch in high places.

Gabon

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Gambia

Kikiyaon

Owl-headed flying monster

It is described as resembling a large owl, especially its head. It has a huge beak and raking talons on its arms and feet. In many respects it is a mixture of bird and human. The Bambara people say it has a huge pair of feathered wings which grow from its back; the shoulder joint of which is tipped with a sharp spur, a deadly weapon if its talons fail. The most terrifying feature is the presence of razor sharp talons, much like those of a large owl, at the end of well-muscled legs.

Georgia

Devi

Three-headed giants

These ogre-like creatures are covered in hair and have horns and several heads (from three up to a hundred).

Germany

Dwarves

Entity that dwells in mountains and in the earth and is variously associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting

Dwarfs in folklore are usually described as old men with long beards.

Ghana

Adze

Vampiric firefly

In the wild, the adze takes the form of a firefly.

Greece

Griffin

A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion

A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.

Grenada

La Diablesse

Shape-shifting hag spirit

A hideously-faced hag, who hides her face with alarge brimmed hat and long dress.

Guatemala

Camazotz

A gigantic monster bat

Giant bats with long, protruding fangs, that stand upright like a person, their wings decorated with ornaments like human bones.

Guinea

jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Guyana

Jumbee

A dark, shadowy malevolent entity

A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature.

Haiti

Loup Garou

Sorcerers with the power to transform into wolves

Similar to the classic werewolf legend, although they can transform intoi other kinds of animals as well.

Honduras

El Picudo

A beast-like creature that drinks the blood of animals

Creature with a dog's body and a pig's face.

Hong Kong

Dragon

Supernatural serpent

In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.

Hungary

Ördög

Shapeshifting demonic creature

Ördög is often thought to look somewhat like a satyr or faun, a humanoid with the upper torso of a human male and lower portions of a goat; usually pitch-black, with cloven hooves, ram-like horns, a long tail ending in a blade; and he carries a pitchfork.

Iceland

Huldufólk (elves)

Elf-like creatures

Large in build, their clothes are all grey, and their hair black. Their dwellings are in mounds, and they are also called elves.

India

Shesha

Great snake that supports the world

A great snake that holds all the planets of the universe on its folds.

Indonesia

Orang Pendek

Ape-like biped

A ground-dwelling, bipedal primate that is covered in short fur and stands between 80 and 150 cm (30 and 60 in) tall.

Iran

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Iraq

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Ireland

Leprechaun

Fairy-like creatures

A leprechaun usually taking the form of an old man with red or white beard, clad in a red or green coat. Popular depiction shows the leprechaun as being no taller than a small child, with a beard and hat, sitting on a toadstool.

Israel

Leviathan

Sea monster

In the Old Testament, Leviathan appears in Psalms 74:14 as a multiheaded sea serpent that is killed by God and given as food to the Hebrews in the wilderness.

Italy

Dragon

Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire

European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.

Ivory Coast

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Jamaica

Rolling Calf

A monstrous bull wrapped in chains

A huge ghost in the shape of a cow, fiery eyes and wrapped in a chain.

Japan

Wani

A sea dragon

Wani are sea monsters that live in deep bodies of water. They have long, serpentine bodies, fins, and can breathe both air and water. Wani are able to shapeshift into humans, and there are even tales of wani and humans falling in love.

Jordan

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Kazakhstan

Tulpar

Pegasus

A winged horse similar to the pegasus.

Kenya

Nandi bear

A ferocious bear-like beast

Descriptions of the Nandi bear are of a ferocious, powerfully built carnivore with high front shoulders (over four feet tall) and a sloping back. Stories of the Nandi bear state that it is fierce, nocturnal, stands on its hind legs and can kill animals.

Kiribati

Te Toa mai Matang

A giant

A giant who was very strong, and had a spear.

Kuwait

Tantal

Ghost that kidnaps children at night

A tall black man, of three meters in height, with disheveled hair whose feetseps were audibly heavy. He would roam around in the dead of night, holding a large staff or cane which he would use to strike his victims.

Kyrgyzstan

Tulpar

Pegasus

A winged horse similar to the pegasus.

Laos

Phaya Naga

Dragon-like river serpent

Serpent-like creatures, believed by locals to live in the Mekong river or estuaries. Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths.

Latvia

Werewolf

A person who transforms into a wolf

When werewolves were in their animal form, it is said that there are surprisingly few differences between the creature and an actual wolf. One of the biggest indicators of a werewolf would be the absence of a tail – though Swedish folklore suggests that some werewolves ran on three legs and held their fourth leg out behind them to appear like a normal wolf from a distance. It was also thought that werewolves had human eyes and voices.

Lebanon

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Lesotho

Dragon

Giant serpent-like creatures inhabiting the local mountains

Giant serpent-like creatures inhabiting the local mountains.

Liberia

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Libya

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Liechtenstein

Dragon

Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire

European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.

Lithuania

Vampire

Blood-drinkers who prey on humans

Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow

Luxembourg

Gnome

Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.

A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man.

Macau

Dragon

Supernatural serpent

In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.

Madagascar

Antamba

Dog-like creature

A dog-sized animal with a round head, resembling a leopard, and is said to kill both cattle and people.

Malawi

Nyuvwira

Multi-headed snake

A nyuvwira has eight heads and is the largest snake in the world. It generates electricity and lights at night. It lives underground, which is fortunate as it is extremely toxic.

Malaysia

Abath

Unicorn-like creature

Described as female, with a single horn growing from its forehead, it is speculated that these were probably the result of a half-glimpsed Javan or Sumatran rhinoceros.

Mali

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Malta

Giant

Beings of human appearance, prodigious in size

Giants vary in size, but are always humanoids who are vastly taller and larger then humans.

Marshall Islands

mermaid

Part human, part fish sea creatures

An aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish.

Mauritania

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Mauritius

Soucouyant

Witch

An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.

Mexico

Quetzalcoatl

Feathered Serpent

A giant magical serpent covered in green feathers. Many depictions incorrectly attribute wings to it.

Micronesia

Nei Tituaabine

Tree goddess

Is a red-haired maiden in Micronesian mythology, specifically in Kiribati. She fell in love with the giant haired-skinned chief, Auriaria, but they had no children. After her death, three trees grew from her grave: a coconut from her head, a pandanus from her heels and an almond from her navel.

Moldova

Balaur

Type of dragon

A balaur is a creature in Moldavian andRomanian folklore, similar to a European dragon. This creature is quite large, has fins, feet, and it usually has three, sometimes seven, or even twelve serpent heads.

Monaco

Dames blanches

Female spirits

Hey hold the appearance of beautiful ladies with long hair and, as their name indicated, they wear white gowns. In certain stories, they seem to hold certain resemblances to the Irish Banshees.

Mongolia

Alma

Humanoid creature

Almases are typically described as human-like bipedal animals, between five and six and a half feet tall, their bodies covered with reddish-brown hair, with anthropomorphic facial features including a pronounced browridge, flat nose, and a weak chin.

Montenegro

Baba Yaga

Witch

A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.

Morocco

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Mozambique

Shetani

Devil-like creatures

Physically, shetani of various types appear as distorted human and animal figures.

Myanmar

Chinthe

LIon-like creature

A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).

Namibia

Namibian Flying Snake

Gargantuan flying serpent

Described as a gargantuan serpent, yellow, brown with light spots, black, a bioluminescent crest, horns, a neck that can inflate and deflate, and leathery bat-like wings.

Nauru

Areop-Enap

Spider-god of creation

An old spider.

Nepal

Yeti

Humanoid creature

Bigfoot-like tall humanoid, covered in pale fur or hair.

Netherlands

Gnome

Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.

A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man.

New Zealand

Taniwha

Power water beings

At sea, a taniwha often appears as a whale or as quite a large shark;[4] compare the Māori name for the Great white shark: mangō-taniwha. In inland waters, they may still be of whale-like dimensions, but look more like a gecko or a tuatara, having a row of spines along the back.

Nicaragua

La Carretanagua

A ghostly caravan of ox carts

Those have ‘seen’ this mysterious entourage of oxen and lost souls say that it moves quickly and is unable to turn corners due to is cross shape, simply disappearing as it reaches the end of a road.

Niger

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Nigeria

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

North Korea

Dragon

Supernatural serpent

In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.

North Macedonia

Vampire

Blood-drinkers who prey on humans

Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow

Norway

Troll

Large, rock-like giants

Unlike their forest-dwelling cousins, cave trolls live completely underground and are generally depicted as smaller than humans with a large round abdomen and short stubby arms and legs. These are more akin to the trolls that help Queen Elsa in Frozen.

Oman

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Pakistan

Barmanou

Yeti-like creature

The Barmanou allegedly possesses both human and apelike characteristics and has a reputation for abducting women and attempting to mate with them. It is also reported to wear animal skins upon its back and head. The Barmanou appears in the folklore of the Northern Regions of Pakistan and depending on where the stories come from it tends to be either described as an ape or a wild man.

Palau

Areop-Enap

Spider-god of creation

An old spider.

Palestine

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Panama

Cadejo

Canine spirits that appear to travelers at night

Large, shaggy dogs with burning eyes and goats hooves a white one (helpful) and a black one (dangerous).

Papua New Guinea

New Guinea Tiger

Mysterious cat

A lion-sized cat.

Paraguay

Teju Jagua

Multi-headed dog-lizard

A huge lizard with seven dog heads and eyes that shoot fire.

Peru

Muki

Goblin-like monster that inhabits mines

Small, brawny creature with pointy ears, long white beards, carries mining lantern.

Philippines

Aswang

Shapeshifters

Aswang is an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil spirits in Filipino folklore, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and werebeasts (usually dogs, cats, pigs).

Poland

Baba Yaga

Witch

A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.

Portugal

Coco

Spirit that abducts children

It is not the way the Coco looks but what it does that scares most. It is a child eater and a kidnapper; it may immediately devour the child, leaving no trace, or it may spirit the child away to a place of no return, but it only does this to disobedient children. It is on the lookout for children's misbehavior from the rooftops; it takes the shape of any dark shadow and stays watching. It represents the opposite of the guardian angel and is frequently compared to the devil. Others see the Coco as a representation of the deceased of the local community.

Qatar

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Republic of the Congo

Emela-ntouka

Monstrous beast, killer of elephants

described as a hairless elephant-sized animal with a crocodile-like tail and a large horn on its nose.

Romania

Balaur

Type of dragon

A balaur is a creature in Moldavian and Romanian folklore, similar to a European dragon. This creature is quite large, has fins, feet, and it usually has three, sometimes seven, or even twelve serpent heads.

Russia

Baba Yaga

Witch

A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.

Rwanda

Nandi bear

A ferocious bear-like beast

Descriptions of the Nandi bear are of a ferocious, powerfully built carnivore with high front shoulders (over four feet tall) and a sloping back. Stories of the Nandi bear state that it is fierce, nocturnal, stands on its hind legs and can kill animals.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Jumbee

A dark, shadowy malevolent entity

A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature.

Saint Lucia

Soucouyant

Witch

An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Jumbee

A dark, shadowy malevolent entity

A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature.

Samoa

Aitu

Ghosts

San Marino

Dragon

Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire

European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.

Sao Tome and Principe

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Saudi Arabia

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Senegal

Kikiyaon

Owl-headed flying monster

It is described as resembling a large owl, especially its head. It has a huge beak and raking talons on its arms and feet. In many respects it is a mixture of bird and human. The Bambara people say it has a huge pair of feathered wings which grow from its back; the shoulder joint of which is tipped with a sharp spur, a deadly weapon if its talons fail. The most terrifying feature is the presence of razor sharp talons, much like those of a large owl, at the end of well-muscled legs.

Serbia

Vampire

Blood-drinkers who prey on humans

Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow.

Seychelles

Songoula

Ape-like creature

A monkey or ape like figure, possibly a small man in Seychellois folklore.

Sierra Leone

Anansi

Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider

Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.

Singapore

Merlion

Aquatic creature

Mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish.

Slovakia

Baba Yaga

Witch

A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.

Slovenia

Dragon

Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire

European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire.

Solomon Islands

Adaro

Merfolk

An adaro is described as a man with gills behind his ears, tail fins for feet, a horn like a shark's dorsal fin, and a swordfish or sawfish-like spear growing out of his head.

Somalia

Ayaanle

Benevolent spirits

Good spirits and acted as mediators between God and humans.

South Africa

Tokiloshe

Dwarf-like water sprite

Small water sprites, withered and gray, with gouged-out eyesand a hole in its skull.

South Korea

Dragon

Supernatural serpent

In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.

South Sudan

Lau

River monster

Large, carnivorous, tentacled dinosaur-like creature.

Spain

Coco

Spirit that abducts children

It is not the way the Coco looks but what it does that scares most. It is a child eater and a kidnapper; it may immediately devour the child, leaving no trace, or it may spirit the child away to a place of no return, but it only does this to disobedient children. It is on the lookout for children's misbehavior from the rooftops; it takes the shape of any dark shadow and stays watching. It represents the opposite of the guardian angel and is frequently compared to the devil. Others see the Coco as a representation of the deceased of the local community.

Sri Lanka

Chinthe

Lion-like creature

A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).

Sudan

Bouda

Were-hyena

In Ethiopia, it is traditionally believed that every blacksmith, whose trade is hereditary, is really a wizard or witch with the power to change into a hyena. These blacksmith werehyenas are believed to rob graves at midnight and are referred to as bouda.

Suriname

Asema

A vampire-like witch

Appears at night as a ball of blue light.

Sweden

Elf

Beautiful, magical creatures that inhabit forests

An elf has a beautiful and seductive appearance, while being able to do magic and illusions. There are different types of elf that have been described;half transparent spirit, adult women sizes and small fairy sizes. There is a common saying in Sweden, which is ‘the elves are dancing in the mist’, as elves are associated with the mist.

Switzerland

Dragon

Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire

European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire........

Syria

Roc

Gigantic bird

Legendary birds big enough to carry off an elephant.

Taiwan

mô-sîn-á

Small fairies or devils

Taiwan’s mô-sîn-á are usually believed to be small in stature. They are thought to be hobbit-like creatures—nimble and often appear like small children.

Tajikistan

Al

Demon

They have clay noses and fiery eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone.

Tanzania

Popobawa

Gigantic bat with one eye

Popobawa is a shapeshifter and described as taking different forms, not just that of a bat as its name implies. It can take either human or animal form, and metamorphose from one into the other. It frequently is depicted with only one eye.

Thailand

Phaya Naga

Dragon-like river serpent

Serpent-like creatures, believed by locals to live in the Mekong river or estuaries. Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths.

Timor Leste

Brother Crocodile

Revered crocodiles who created the island

An immense crocodile.

Togo

Adze

Vampiric firefly

In the wild, the adze takes the form of a firefly,

Tonga

Takuaka

Shark god

He was a shape-shifter and had the ability to morph into anything, even human beings. He was most ferocious in his natural state, a sleek yet powerful shark.

Trinidad and Tobago

Soucouyant

Witch

An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.

Tunisia

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Turkey

Dragon

Immense mythical serpents

Also expressed as a snake or lizard, is the symbol of might and power.

Turkmenistan

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Tuvalu

te Pusi mo te Ali

The Eel and the Flounder

An eel and a flounder fish are said to be the creators of their islands.

Uganda

Lukwata

Lake monster

It has been described as 20–30 feet long, with dark smooth skin and a rounded head, and known to attack fishermen and boats.

Ukraine

Baba Yaga

Witch

A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.

United Arab Emirates

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

United States

Sasquatch

Bipedal, hairy humanoid that is said to live in deep forests

Hairy humanoid, extremely tall with large feet.

Uruguay

Luison

Werewolf

The name of Luison is a variation of Lobizón, a name used in Argentina and Uruguay to describe the werewolf or a similar creature, which is itself a variation of the Brazilian name for the werewolf, Lobisomem, more literally wolf-man.

Uzbekistan

Simurgh

Phoenix-like bird

The simurgh is depicted in Iranian art as a winged creature in the shape of a bird, gigantic enough to carry off an elephant or a whale. It appears as a peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion – sometimes, however, also with a human face.

Vanuatu

Abaia

Magical eel

A huge, magical eel.

Venezuela

Wako

Cave-digging, fanged monsters

The Wako are tsawekuri, animal spirits in the folklore of the Cuiva of Colombia and Venezuela. They look like pacas, with spots and long vicious fangs. Wako dig caves with many small exits and hiding-places, and live there in large numbers.

Vietnam

Dragon

Supernatural serpent

In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.

Yemen

Jinn

Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie

Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Zambia

Kongamato

Large lizard with leathery bat wings

It is described as a reddish lizard with membranous wings and teeth in its beak. Its wingspan ranges from 4 to 100 feet across. When shown a picture of a pterosaur, natives said that it was a picture of a kongamato.

Zimbabwe

Nyaminyami

Snakelike river spirit

Variously described as having the body of a snake and the head of a fish, a whirlpool or a river dragon, the Nyami Nyami is seen as the god of Zambezi Valley and the river before the creation of the Kariba Dam. The Nyami Nyami is regularly depicted as a snake-like being or dragon-like creature with a snake's torso and the head of a fish.

Mythical Creatures by Country 2024

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