Mythological Creatures
Mythological creatures from around the world are often found in fictional worlds. They may be a central facet to a culture or a small bit of folklore. They may truly prowl the lands of fantasy settings, or they may be used by worldbuilders as archetypes to design new fictional creatures. Below is a list of mythological creatures from around the world. They have been sorted into the approximate regions, cultures, or civilizations to which they belong. Please note that for some regions covering great areas, the mythological creatures listed may come from a variety of different tribes or cultures. For example, the entry for Southern Africa contains beasts that come from both the Zulu and the Xhosa traditions.
Algonquian
| Baykoks: Skeleton-like figures with red points for eyes which eat the livers of their victims while they sleep |
| Deer Women: Women with the hooves of deer who would sneak into camps to dance then disappear when the songs ended |
| Giants: Humans of a massive size |
| Horned Serpents: Snakes with horns that are associated with rain, thunder, and storms |
| Kee-wakw: Giant cannibals that were once human but now feel only hunger |
| Mannegishi: Small, humanoid creatures with long limbs and no noses which live in rapids and capsize canoes |
| Pukwudgies: Small, wild, men which will lure people to their deaths |
| Underwater Panthers: A creature with the head and claws of a large cat but covered in scales with spikes along its back. Associated with the underworld. |
| Wendigos: An evil spirit which possesses people and causes them to become cannibalistic |
Cherokee
| Ani Hyuntikwalaski: Thunder beings that cause lightning fires in hollow sycamore trees |
| Deer Women: Women with the hooves of deer |
| Horned Serpents: snakes with horns that are associated with rain, thunder, and storms |
| Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skï (Raven Mockers): Evil witch spirits which eat the hearts of the sick and dying and thus prolong their own lives |
| Moon-Eyed People: Short, bearded, pale humans with poor eyesight |
| Nûñnë’hï: A race of immortal beings |
| Nun’Yunu’Wi: A humanoid creature with skin as tough as stone which devours humans and can control minds |
China
| Bái Zé: A cow-like creature with the face of a man |
| Dragon Turtle: A giant turtle with the head and neck of a dragon. |
| Feng: A lump of meat with eyes that grows back as it is eaten |
| Fuzhu: A deer-like creature with four horns |
| Ghosts: Specters of the dead |
| Giant Serpents: Snakes of a massive size |
| Giant Turtles: Turtles of a massive size |
| Huli Jing: A nine-tailed fox |
| Huodou: A dog-like creature that breathes fire |
| Jiangshi: Reanimated corpses |
| Jin Chan: A bullfrog that brings wealth |
| Jinnalaluo: Divine beings with the heads of animals and the bodies of humans |
| Jiufeng: A nine-headed bird |
| Jué Yuán: Dark blue monkey-like creatures that abduct women |
| Luduan: A creature that resembles a green deer with the tail of a horse and a single horn on its head. It can speak many languages |
| Mogwai: Evil spirit demons |
| Qianlima: A swift horse creature that could run |
| Qilin: A deer-like creature with a single horn growing from its’ forehead |
| Shangyang: A rain bird which could predict the rain |
| Shishi: Guardian creatures that are half-dog and half-lion and whose sculptures are often found at the entrances to temples or houses |
| Tenghuang: Fox-like creatures with wings and horns on their backs |
| Wangliang: Demons, spirits, ghosts, monsters and other malevolent beings |
| Xiezhi: An ox or goat-like creature with a single horn on its forehead that can sense good and evil |
| Yaoguai: Monsters |
| Zhenniao: Poisonous eagle-like birds |
Eastern Africa
| Agogwe: Small humanoid creatures |
| Chemosit: Creatures that are half man half bird, has nine buttocks and eats children |
| Lukwata: A sea monster |
| Makalala: Gigantic carrion birds |
| Nandi Bear: A ferocious bear-like creature |
| Popobawa: Evil shape-changing spirits |
| Shape-Changers: Humans with the power of the Buda (evil-eye) may change into hyenas |
| Shetani: Malevolent spirits |
| Spirits: East African spirits may be animal spirits, nature spirits, or spirits of the dead |
Egypt
| Giant Snakes: Serpents of a massive size |
| Griffin: A creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion |
| Serpopard: A creature with the body of a leopard and the head of a snake |
| Sphinx: A creature with the head of a person and the body of a lion |
| Totemic Animal: An animal associated with a specific god or group of people |
Greece
| Catoblepas: Creatures resembling a buffalo with ragged hair and horns and breath that could kill |
| Centaurs: Creatures with the body of a horse and the torso, arms, and head of a human |
| Cerebus: Gigantic, three-headed dog which guards the entrance to the underworld |
| Ceryneian Hind: A giant stag with golden antlers and bronze hooves |
| Charybdis: A sea monster whose maw formed a whirlpool |
| Chimera: Fire-breathing monsters with three heads (a lion, a snake, and a goat), lion claws in front and goat legs behind, and a long snake tail. |
| Cyclops: One-eyed giants |
| Dragons: Serpentine dragons |
| Drakons: giant wingless serpents that either spit poison or breathed fire |
| Dryads: Female tree spirits |
| Fire-breathing Horses: horses which can breathe flame |
| Giant Boars: Boars of a massive size |
| Giant Crabs: Crabs of a massive size |
| Giant Eagles: Eagles of a massive size |
| Giant Turtles: Turtles of a massive size |
| Giants: Gigantic humans |
| Gorgons: Women with snakes for hair |
| Griffins: Creatures with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. |
| Harpies: Women with the talons and wings of birds |
| Hellhounds: Large, vicious dogs |
| Hippalectryons: Creatures with the front of a horse and rear of a rooster |
| Hippocampus: Creatures with the upper body of a horse and the lower body of a fish |
| Hydras: Creatures with many snake heads which will grow a new head each time one is severed |
| Manticores: Creatures with the body of a lion and the head of a human |
| Minotaur: Creature with the head and lower body of a bull and the torso and arms of a man |
| Myrmekes: Giant ants which guarded gold deposits |
| Myrmidons: Ants which could transform into humans |
| Onocentaurs: Creatures with the body of a donkey and upper torso, arms, and head of a man. |
| Ouroboros: A serpent or dragon curled into a circle perpetually eating its own tail |
| Pegasus: A winged, flying horse |
| Phoenix: A fire-bird which into flame upon death and be reborn from the ashes |
| Satyrs: Small humans with the hindquarters and horns of a goat |
| Sea Goats: Creatures with the front of a goat and rear of a fish |
| Shades: Ghosts of those who have died |
| Sirens: Malevolent spirit women whose song entranced sailors and led them to their death |
| Spartae: Skeleton warriors |
| Sphinx: Creatures with the body of a lion and the head of either a human, a ram, or a hawk. |
| Strix: Bird of ill omen which may be associated with witches |
| Stymphalian Birds: Man-eating metallic birds |
| Teumessian fox: A giant fox destined never to be caught |
| Unicorns: A horse-like creature with a single pointed horn growing from its forehead |
| Vampires: Demons which ate the flesh and blood of people |
| Werewolves: Humans who could turn into wolves |
India
| Aleya: Ghost lights seen in marshes |
| Apsara: Female cloud spirits and wives to the Gandharvas |
| Bhoot: Ghost |
| Brahmarakshasas: Demon spirit giants |
| Byangoma: Wise birds that can tell a persons fortune |
| Churels: Witches |
| Crocotta: A vicious creature either part dog and part wolf or part hyena and part lion |
| Ḍākinīs: Female, flesh-eating demons |
| Dayans: Witches |
| Demons: Often depicted as large humans with the heads of elephants or lions |
| Gajasimha: Creatures with the body of a lion and the head of an elephant |
| Gandharvas: Half animal male nature spirits and husbands to the Aspara |
| Giant Crocodiles: Crocodiles of a massive size |
| Giant Elephants: Elephants of a massive size |
| Giant Snakes: Snakes of a massive size |
| Giant Turtles: Turtles of a massive size |
| Guhyakas: Creatures that live underground and can change forms to appear half-horse, half bird, gnome-like, or demon-like |
| Ichchadhari Naags: Shape-shifting cobras |
| Kindevas: Creatures that appear human but require no nourishment and perform no bodily functions |
| Kumbhāṇḍa: Misshapen spirits |
| Nagas: Creatures part snake and part human |
| Rakshasas: Man-eating demon giants |
| Unicorn: A horse-like creature with a single horn growing from its forehead |
| Vanaras: Forest-dwelling monkey people |
| Vidyadharas: Wise, magical air spirits |
| Weretigers: Sorcerers that can turn into fearsome tigers |
| Yaksha: Benevolent male nature spirits |
| Yaksini: Benevolent female nature spirits |
Inuit
| Adlet: Creatures with the upper half of a human and lower half of a dog |
| Adlivun: Spirits of the departed. Translates to ‘those who live beneath us’ |
| Ahkiyyini: Skeleton spirits that can cause earthquakes |
| Akhlut: An orca-like creature that can take the form of a wolf when on land |
| Amarok: A giant wolf |
| Atshen: A cannibal spirit |
| Ijiraq: Shape-changing spirits that kidnap children |
| Keelut: Earth spirits which can appear as hairless dogs |
| Kigatilik: Fanged demons |
| Qiqirn: Large, hairless dogs which can induce seizures |
| Tariaksuq: Shadow-like humans which cannot be seen when directly looking at them except for their shadows but when killed become visible as half-man, half caibou creatures |
| Tizheruk: A serpent-like sea monster |
| Tupilaq: An avenging monster brought to life by a shaman or witch using animal parts or corpses of children |
Iroquois
| Da-jo-ji: Giant wind spirit |
| Deer Women: Women with the hooves of deer |
| Djieien: Giant spiders |
| Flying Heads: Giant, flying heads with razor sharp teeth |
| Gahongas: Jogah that live in streams and rocky areas and throw stones at people |
| Gandayah: Jogah that tend to the plants of an area and take the form of either robins if they have good news to tell, or owls if the news is bad. |
| Jogah (Drum Dancers): Tiny invisible humanoids which can be divided into groups such as the Gahongs, the Gandayah, and the Ohdows |
| Ohdows: Jogah that live underground and protect our world from the creatures of the underworld. |
| Thunder Spirits: Spirits of thunder |
| Wind Spirits: Spirits of the wind |
Japan
| Bake-danuki: A raccoon-dog spirit |
| Bakeneko: A cat spirit |
| Gashadokuro: Giant skeletons that bite off the heads of their victims and drink their blood |
| Goryō: Vengeful spirits |
| Hibagon: Ape-like creatures similar to the yeti or bigfoot |
| Kodama: Spirits that live in trees and are responsible for echoes |
| Kyonshii: Vampires |
| Mizuchi: A water dragon |
| Ōkami: A wolf spirit who can act either as a protector or destroyer |
| Oni: Demonic spirits with an ogre-like appearance |
| Onibi: Spectral flame spirits |
| Satori: Monkey-like creatures that can read minds and live in the mountains |
| Tanuki: Racoon dogs with the ability to shapeshift |
| Tengu: Wise spirit demons |
| Tennin: Celestial beings akin to angels |
| Ushi-oni: Ox-headed monsters |
| Yōkai: Supernatural spirits, monsters, and demons |
| Yōsei: Fairies |
| Yurei: Ghosts |
Korea
| Bul-Gae: Fire dogs that cause eclipses when they bite the sun or moon |
| Chollima: Horse like creatures with the wings of birds |
| Dalgyal Guishin (Egg Ghost): A specter that appears as an egg and those who see it will soon die |
| Dokkaebi: Demonic trolls |
| Dragons: Korean dragons are associated with water and agriculture and are often seen as protectors |
| Fenghuang: Colorful birds that symbolize peace and prosperity |
| Gumiho: Fox-like creatures with nine tails and the ability to shapeshift |
| Gwishin: Ghosts that are often female with long, black hair that covers their face and who wear white funeral dresses |
| Haechi: Creatures that are a cross between a lion and a dog and often guard a place |
| Imugi: Juvenile dragons |
| Inmyeonjo: Bird-like creatures with human faces |
| Kumiho: See Gumiho |
| Luan: A Chicken-like bird with god and red coloration |
| Moon Rabbit: A rabbit that lives on the moon |
| Qianlima: See Chollima |
| Samjoko: A three-legged rooster |
Korean gwishin have been featured in a number of horror worlds.
Māori
| Aitu: Ghosts or spirits that are often malevolent |
| Giant Eels: Eels of a massive size |
| Giant Fish: Fish of a massive size |
| Giant Octopi: Octopi of a massive size |
| Hakawai: A mythological bird that is rarely seen |
| Hākuturi: Bird-like guardians of the forest |
| Maero: Wild, malevolent giants |
| Manaia: Creatures with the head of a bird, body of a human, and the tail of a fish or serpent |
| Nuku-mai-tore: Forest spirits |
| Ogres: Large, ugly brutes |
| Patupaiarehe: Pale humanoids can shroud themselves in mist and are killed by direct sunlight |
| Ponaturi: Malevolent goblins who are killed by sunlight |
| Poukai: Giant eagles |
| Taniwha: Large water beings that can act either as protectors or sources of destruction |
| Tipua: Spirit demons that could be any type of object |
| Waitoreke: An otter-like creature |
Norse
| Draugr: Undead warriors who can swim through stone and guard treasure |
| Dreki (dragon): A serpent-like creature which may or may not have wings |
| Dwarves: Creatures that dwell in underground labyrinths working at their forges |
| Elves: Creatures that were beautiful, morally ambivalent, and gender fluid |
| Giant Boars: Boars of a massive size |
| Giant Goats: Goats of a massive size |
| Giant Stags: Stags of a massive size |
| Hamingja: Female guardian angels |
| Jötnar: Giants, though they can be the same size as humans, who are spirits of ice, cold, darkness, and winter |
| Kraken: A large, squid-like sea monster |
| Landvættir: Spirits of the land that guard and cultivate whatever large of small area they inhabit |
| Lindworms: Serpent-like creatures with two forearms and the head of a dragon |
| Lyngbakr: Whale-like sea monsters |
| Marmennill & Margygur: Either male (marmennill) or female (margygur) merpeople who could foretell the future |
| Trolls: a subset of Jötnar that dwell in isolated rocky areas |
| Valkries: Spirits who choose who lives and dies in battle and ferry them to the afterlife |
| Vargr (warg): Large wolves that can be ridden |
| Vörðr: Guardian spirits that watch over every person |
Quechua
| Amaru: A two-headed serpent or dragon with the wings of a bird |
| Amarum: A spirit with the shape of a water boa |
| Chullachaki: Short, ugly, humanoid creature with one foot hooved or backwards that lures people to become lost in the jungle |
| Muki: Goblin-like dwarf creatures that live in mines |
| Pishtaco: Evil monster men that eat the fat of their victims |
Roman
| Basilisk: A serpent or part serpent part rooster which can kill with its’ gaze |
| Caladrius: A snow-white bird which has the power to heal the sick |
| Catoblepas: A creature resembling a buffalo with ragged hair and horns and breath that could kill |
| Chimera: A fire-breathing monster with three heads (a lion, a snake, and a goat), lion claws in front and goat legs behind, and a long snake tail. |
| Cinnamon Bird: A giant bird which collected cinnamon to build its’ nest |
| Crocotta: A vicious creature either part dog and part wolf or part hyena and part lion |
| Dragons: Serpentine dragons |
| Fauns: Small humans with the hindquarters and horns of a goat. Similar to Satyrs in Greek mythology |
| Genius Loci: The protective spirit of a certain place |
| Giants: Humans of a massive size |
| Gorgons: Women with snakes for hair |
| Griffins: Creatures with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. |
| Hydras: Creatures with many snake heads which will grow a new head each time one is severed |
| Minotaur: Creature with the head and lower body of a bull and the torso and arms of a man |
| Monocerus: A horse-like creature with a single horn protruding from its forehead. Similar to the unicorn |
| Pegasus: A winged, flying horse |
| Phoenix: A fire-bird which into flame upon death and be reborn from the ashes |
| Pyrallis: Insects which may only live within the flames of a fire |
| Sirens: Malevolent spirit women whose song entranced sailors and led them to their death |
| Strix: Bird of ill omen which may be associated with witches |
Many of the mythological creatures of ancient Rome were taken from the ancient Greeks, and most Greek mythological creatures exist in some form in Roman mythology.
Slav
| Bauk: A goblin-like creature that hides in dark or abandoned places waiting to ambush and devour victims. Scared by light |
| Changeling: A fairy that was left in place of a human child that has been stolen by the fairies |
| Cikavacs: Winged, bird-like creatures |
| Dhampir: The offspring of a vampire and a human |
| Drekavac: A zombie-like creature |
| Fire Serpents: Great snakes of flame |
| Firebirds: Great birds of flame |
| Karzelek: Small gnome-like creatures that live underground, guard precious gems and metals, and protect miners from danger |
| Nav: Souls of the dead |
| Shatans: Cowardly, lazy creatures |
| Shishiga: Female swamp goblins |
| Skrzaks: Flying imps that live in high enclosed spaces |
| Strzyga: Female demons |
| Utopce: Spirits of drowned people |
| Vampires: Undead creatures that drink the blood of their victims |
| Vedma: A female witch |
| Vedmak: A male witch |
| Zmei: A dragon |
Southern Africa
| Amazimu: Shape-changing monsters that eat humans |
| Grootslang: Creatures that are part elephant and part snake which possess a keen intelligence and steal jewels |
| Impundulu: Vampire-like creatures with wings |
| Inkanyamba: A massive serpent-like creature that can cause rains and tornadoes |
| Tikoloshe: An evil gremlin who may turn invisible by swallowing a stone. Usually in service to some master. |
| Umkovu: Zombie-like living corpses raised from the dead |
Western Africa
| Adze: A vampire that can take the form of either a firefly or a human and can possess people |
| Asanbosam: A vampire-like creature with metal teeth and iron hooks for hands that resembles a humanoid bat with giant wings |
| Aziza: Small, hairy benevolent beings that provide good magic for hunters |
| Miengu: Water spirits that resemble beautiful mermaids |
| Nommo: Ancestral spirits |
| Obayifo: Witch-like creatures that can possess people and turn into flying balls of light |
| Obia: A giant beast controlled by a witch that kidnaps young girls and wears their skin |
| Ogbanje: Malevolent spirits that bring bad luck |
| Yumboes: Fairies that are white with silver hair |
| Zin: Water spirits |
