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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AsimanSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Dahomey | Vampiric possession spirit. | — |
| ÆsirDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Norse | Norse deities. | — |
| Ask-wee-da-eedSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Abenaki | Fire elemental and spectral fire. | 1 |
| AskefrueSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Germanic | Female tree spirit. | 15 |
| AsobibiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Spectral fire from Kōchi Prefecture. | 5 |
| AspidocheloneGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiaries | Island-sized whale or sea turtle. | — |
| AsraiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | English | Water spirit. | 2 |
| AstomiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Humanoid sustained by pleasant smells instead of food. | 3 |
| AsuraDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Hindu | Hindu malevolent divinities. | — |
| AswangGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Philippine | Carrion-eating humanoid. | 1 |
| Ato-oi-kozōSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Invisible spirit that follows people. | 5 |
| AtomySpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | English | Surprisingly small creature. | 2 |
| AtshenSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Inuit | Anthropophagous spirit. | — |
| AugerinoGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | American | Subterranean creature. | — |
| AvalerionGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiary | King of the birds. | — |
| Awa-hon-doSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Abenaki | Insect spirit. | 1 |
| AxexGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Ancient Egyptian | Falcon-lion hybrid. | — |
| AyakashiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Sea serpent that travels over boats in an arc while dripping oil. | 5 |
| Ayakashi-no-ayashibiPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Spectral fire from Ishikawa Prefecture. | 5 |
| AzhdahaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Persian | Gigantic winged serpent, roughly equivalent to a dragon. | 1 |
| AzizaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Dahomey | Little people that help hunters. | — |
| Azukiarai/AzukitogiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Spirit that washes azuki beans along riversides. | 5 |
| AzukibabaaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Bean-grinding hag who devours people. | 5 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261029.1 (29 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
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