Resources · Creatures, spirits & other beings
Folklore Dictionary
Meet the beings of folklore: explore their names, descriptions and associated traditions, from familiar creatures to less familiar inhabitants of the otherworld.
1,598 reference entries · Browse A–Z or explore by place
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Creature coverage
Zoom or move the map, then choose “Filter to this area” to list creatures with a tradition location in that view. You can combine this with a character family or a search term.
Creatures associated with a tradition
88 creatures at 157 tradition locations · 55 without tradition coordinates
Markers use tradition coordinates linked through source names, recorded aliases, language groups or reviewed associations. Language-group links show cultural context, rather than verified creature occurrences in every tradition. Creatures sharing a location are grouped; select a marker to see their names. Counts cover all matching entries across every results page.
Use the location filter or the list below to browse associated places.
Browse associated places without the map
- Africa (1)
- Ainu (2)
- Anatolia Turks (4)
- Ancient Egypt, Egyptian (1)
- Ancient Greece (12)
- Argentina (1)
- Argentina (1)
- Armenia (1)
- Armenians (2)
- Astrakhan Tatars, Karagash Nogai (4)
- Azeris (Azerbaijanis) (4)
- Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography (1)
- Bashkirs (4)
- Basques (2)
- Bengali (1)
- Bosnia Muslims (2)
- Bosnians (2)
- Bulgarians, Balkarians (2)
- Buryats: Eastern (trans Baikal), i.e. Khori (1)
- Buryats: Northern (Lake Baikal) (1)
- Buryats: Western (cis Baikal) (1)
- Byelarusians, Belarusians (2)
- Catalan (1)
- Cañari (1)
- Central Yakuts (Sakha) (5)
- Cherokee (1)
- Chile (1)
- China (1)
- Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan (1)
- Chontal (1)
- Chorti (1)
- Chulym Turks (4)
- Chuvash (4)
- Crimean Tatars, Karaims (4)
- Croatians, Croats; Italians of Dalmatia (if the motif is absent among other Italians) (2)
- Czech, Czechs (2)
- Danes, Danish (1)
- Darkhad (1)
- Daur (Daghur) (1)
- Dolgans (4)
- Dongxiang, Baoan (1)
- Dutch, Flemish (1)
- Early Russian written sources (2)
- Easter Island (1)
- Eastern Ukrainians (2)
- Egypt (6)
- England (2)
- England, British, Bretons (3)
- Faroe Islands (1)
- Finland (3)
- Finns (3)
- France (1)
- France (1)
- Frisians (1)
- Gagauz (4)
- Germans: North (Low- and Central German dialects): Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pommern, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony, incl East Frisia and Oldenburg), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Thüringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Brandenburg, Rügen (2)
- Germans: Northeast (Brandenburg, Meklenburg, Rügen, Pommern, Silesia, Posen) (1)
- Germans: South (Upper German dialects): Alsace (Elsass), Baden-Württemberg, Bawaria, Swabia, Switzerland, Bohemia, Sudeten, Austria (1)
- Germans – Southwest: Alsace (Elsass), Baden-Württemberg, Swabia, Switzerland (1)
- Germany (1)
- Greece (12)
- Greeks (modern), Balkarians (12)
- Greeks of Cyprus (12)
- Hawaii (1)
- Hittite, Hurrit (4)
- Huastec (Teenek) (1)
- Icelanders (1)
- Iranian literary tradition (including Avesta, Pahlevi scripts, Sah-nameh, Marzban-nameh); Zoroastrians of Iran, Indian Parsees, Zoroastrianism (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Japan (21)
- Japan (21)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (21)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (21)
- Kalmyk (1)
- Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro (1)
- Karachays, Balkar (4)
- Kara Kalpak (4)
- Kashubians (2)
- Kazakh (4)
- Kazan (Middle Volga) Tatars (4)
- Kechua-speaking communities of Apurimac, Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno departments; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries; Callawaya (Kechua with Pukina substratum) (1)
- Kekchi; Mopan (1)
- Khakas (4)
- Khamnigans (1)
- Khoekhoe (=Hottentot; incl Nama, Korana); Damara (1)
- Khwarezm Uzbek; Turkic written tradition from Kök Orda (4)
- Kirghiz (4)
- Kumyk, Terekemen (4)
- Lacandon (1)
- Lithuania (1)
- Lithuanians (1)
- Macedonians, Balkarians (2)
- Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken) (2)
- Mam, Ixil, Aguatec, Avakatec (1)
- Mangareva (1)
- Mangbetu (Ngbetu), Mangbutu, Moru, Madi, Lugbara, Lendu (=Bale) (1)
- Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands) (1)
- Marquesas (1)
- Mongolia (1)
- Mongols (Khalkha) (1)
- Mongols of Inner Mongolia (1)
- Monguor (Tu), Shirongol (1)
- Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”) (1)
- Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong (1)
- Nigeria (1)
- Niue (1)
- Nogai (4)
- Northeastern Yakuts (Sakha): Yana, Indigirka and Kolyma Basins (4)
- Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians (4)
- Northern Cook Islands: Rakahanga, Manihiki, Tongareva (1)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (21)
- Northern Ukrainians (2)
- Northwestern Yakuts (Sakha): Yessey, Anabar, Olenyok and Lower Lena Basins (4)
- Norwegians (1)
- Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots) (1)
- Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria (1)
- People's Republic of China (1)
- Persians (2)
- Philippines (3)
- Philippines (3)
- Poles (2)
- Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam (1)
- Russian Pomors ("seasiders"): Lower Pechora (2)
- Russian Pomors ('seasiders'): Terski Coast (Murmansk province) (2)
- Russian Pomors (“seasiders): Arkhangelsk province without its southern part (Shengur district and Konosha dstrict), Karelia White Sea coast (2)
- Russians: Central part of ethnic territory as in A.D. 1500 (Tver, Yaroslavl, Moscow, Kostroma, Vladimir, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga, Smolensk provinces; in case of absence in other areas also Russians in Vyatka, Perm, Kazan provinces) (2)
- Russians: Novgorod and Pskov provinces (2)
- Russians: Olonets province/SE Karelia, Shengur district of Arkhangelsk province (2)
- Russians: Southern part of ethnic territory as in A.D. 1500 (Belgorod, Voronezh, Tambov, Penza, Lipetsk, Orel, Kursk, Bryansk provinces; in case of absence in other areas also Russians in Samara, Simbirsk and Saratov provinces) (2)
- Russians: Vologda province (incl. Belozersk, Kirillov and Cherepovets districts of form. Novgorod Province) (2)
- Rusyns, Hutsuls (2)
- Salars (4)
- Samoa (1)
- Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia) (1)
- Scotland, Scots, Picts, Scotti, Scottish (1)
- Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians (2)
- Shor (4)
- Siberian Tatars (4)
- Slovakians, Slovaks (2)
- Slovenians, Slovenes (2)
- Society Islands: Tahiti, Borabora, Raiatea (1)
- Solomon Islands (1)
- Sorbians (Luzhitsa Serbs) (2)
- Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians (4)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (21)
- Southern Cook Islands: Mangaia, Rarotonga, Atiu, Iatutakim Pukapuka, Tubuai (=Austral Islands, incl Rapa) (1)
- Stavropol Turkmen (recent migrants from Mangyshlak Peninsular) (4)
- Swedes (1)
- Terek Cossacks (2)
- Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni (1)
- Tofa (Karagas) (4)
- Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec (1)
- Tonga (1)
- Transylvanian Saksons (1)
- Tsimshian (1)
- Tuamotu, incl Pukapuka (different from Pukapuka in Cook Islands), Vahitahi, Anaa, Hao, Fangatau (1)
- Turkmen (4)
- Tuvalu (Ellice) (1)
- Tuvinians of Monglian Altai (4)
- Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans (4)
- Tzeltal (1)
- Tzotzil (1)
- Tzutujil (1)
- Uyghur (4)
- Uzbek (4)
- Wales (2)
- Wallis (=Uvea, different from Melanesian Uvea), Futuna (1)
- Wawenock, Abenaki, Penobscot (4)
- Western Ukrainians (2)
- Western Yakuts (Sakha): Olekma and Vilyuy Basins (4)
- Yucatec, Itza (1)
- Yugur (Sarïg Yogïr, Yellow Uyghur) (4)
Browse the dictionary
143 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-senee-ki-wakwGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Abenaki | Stone giant. | 1 |
| AatxeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Basque | Bull spirit. | 1 |
| AbaasySpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Yakuts | Iron-toothed demons. | 1 |
| AbadaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | African | Unicorn that inhabits the African Congo. | — |
| ÄbädäSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Tatar | Forest spirit. | — |
| AbaiaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Melanesia | Huge magical eel. | — |
| Á Bao A QuGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Malay | Entity that lives in the Tower of Victory in Chitor. | 1 |
| AbarimonGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiaries | Savage humanoid with backward feet. | — |
| AbathGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Malay | One-horned animal. | 1 |
| Abumi-guchiPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Furry creature from an animated stirrup, usually from a mounted soldier who fell in battle | 5 |
| Abura-sumashiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Creature from a mountain pass in Kumamoto Prefecture. | 5 |
| Abzar iyesiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Turkic | Household spirit | 35 |
| AcephaliGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Headless humanoids. | 3 |
| AcheriThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Hindu | Disease-bringing ghost. | — |
| AchiyalabopaDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Pueblo | Huge bird god. | — |
| AchlisAnimals (suggested) | Roman | Curious elk. | — |
| Adar Llwch GwinGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Welsh | Giant birds that understand human languages. | 1 |
| AdaroSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Solomon Islands | Malevolent merfolk. | 1 |
| AdheneSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Manx | Nature spirit. | — |
| AdletGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Inuit | Vampiric dog-human hybrid | — |
| AdroanziSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Lugbara | Nature spirit. | 1 |
| AdzeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Ewe people | African vampiric-forest being. | — |
| AericoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Disease demon. | 3 |
| AeternaeGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Saw-horned monster. | 3 |
| AfancGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Welsh | Lake monster (exact lake varies by story). | 1 |
| AgadzagadzaAnimals (suggested) | Nigerian | Lizard trickster figure in Bura mythology. | — |
| AgathodaemonSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Spirit of vinefields and grainfields. | 3 |
| AgloolikSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Inuit | Ice spirit that aids hunters and fishermen. | — |
| AgniDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Hindu | God of fire and sacrifices. | — |
| AgogweGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | East Africa | Small, ape-like humanoid. | — |
| AhkiyyiniThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Inuit | Animated skeleton that causes shipwrecks. | — |
| AhuizotlGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Aztec | Anthropophagous dog-monkey hybrid. | 1 |
| AhuraDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Zoroastrianism | Zoroastrian spirits. | 1 |
| AigamuxaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Khoikhoi | Anthropophagous humanoid with eyes in its instep. | 1 |
| AigikampoiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Etruscan | Fish-tailed goat. | — |
| AiravataDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Hindu | Divine elephant. | — |
| AituSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Polynesian | Malevolent spirits or demons. | 17 |
| AitvarasSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Lithuanian | Household spirit. | 1 |
| AjatarSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Finnish | Dragon/snake female spirit, is said to spread diseases | 1 |
| AkatekoGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Tree-dwelling monster. | 5 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261028.1 (28 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
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