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
37 creatures at 72 tradition locations · 24 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
- Albania (2)
- Albanians, Balkarians (2)
- Ancient Greece (5)
- Arnhem Land: Enindhilyagwa (Groote Eilandt), KuTiwi, Yulengor, Mara, Oenpelli, Murngin, Roper River, Maung, Murinbata, Murngin (Duwal), Millingimbi, Goulburn Island, Ngulugwongga, Yirrkalla, Voctoria River Downs, Alawa, Anu, Kunwinjku (1)
- Australia (1)
- Bhutan (1)
- Bosnia Muslims (4)
- Bosnians (4)
- Bulgarians, Balkarians (4)
- Byelarusians, Belarusians (4)
- Catalan (2)
- Central Australia: Kaitish, Warramunga, Arunta (Aranda), Loritja (Kukatja), Pijandjara (Pitjantjara), Adnjamatana (Andjamathana, Wailpi), Aluridja, Walpiri (Walbiri), Aluridja, Matuntara (Maduntara), Nambutji, Wamma (=Wommana?) (1)
- China (4)
- Croatians, Croats; Italians of Dalmatia (if the motif is absent among other Italians) (4)
- Czech, Czechs (4)
- Danes, Danish (1)
- Dutch, Flemish (1)
- Early Russian written sources (4)
- Eastern Ukrainians (4)
- England (1)
- England, British, Bretons (2)
- Faroe Islands (1)
- France (2)
- France (1)
- Frisians (1)
- 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 (3)
- 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 (2)
- Greece (5)
- Greeks (modern), Balkarians (5)
- Greeks of Cyprus (5)
- Icelanders (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Ireland (2)
- Japan (3)
- Japan (3)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (3)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (3)
- Kashubians (4)
- Kimberley Plateau: Gwini, Roebuck Bay, Forest River tribes, Drysdale River tribes, Njulnjul, Ungarinyin, Unambal, Bad (Baada) (1)
- Korea (1)
- Koreans (1)
- Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw) (1)
- Macedonians, Balkarians (4)
- Mestizos of Soconuzco; Cotzumapguapa iconography (1)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (3)
- Northern Ukrainians (4)
- Norwegians (1)
- People's Republic of China (3)
- Philippines (1)
- Philippines (1)
- Poles (4)
- Portugal (1)
- Portuguese, Portugal (1)
- Queensland: Mungkan (Wikmunkan), Wiknatara, Bloomfield River, Cape Bedford, Cape Grafton, Kokowara (Koko-Warra), Koko-yalunyu (Kokokulunggur), Bunya Bunya, Waka-Waka (Wakawaka), Kabikabi, Chepara (1)
- Russia (1)
- Russian Federation (1)
- Russian Pomors ("seasiders"): Lower Pechora (4)
- Russian Pomors ('seasiders'): Terski Coast (Murmansk province) (4)
- Russian Pomors (“seasiders): Arkhangelsk province without its southern part (Shengur district and Konosha dstrict), Karelia White Sea coast (4)
- 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) (4)
- Russians: Novgorod and Pskov provinces (4)
- Russians: Olonets province/SE Karelia, Shengur district of Arkhangelsk province (4)
- 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) (4)
- Russians: Vologda province (incl. Belozersk, Kirillov and Cherepovets districts of form. Novgorod Province) (4)
- Rusyns, Hutsuls (4)
- Saibai, Dauan, Boigu, Badu, Waraber, Wet, Warei, Dauar, Badu, Moa (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 (2)
- Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians (4)
- Slovakians, Slovaks (4)
- Slovenians, Slovenes (4)
- Sorbians (Luzhitsa Serbs) (4)
- Southeast Australia: Kamilaroi, Yualarai (Ualarai, Euahlayi), Milpulo (Mailpurgu), Wuradjeri (Wiradjurim, Wiradjeri, Wurundjeri, Yarra, Yarra Yarra), Wongaibon (Wonghibon), Noongahburrah (Narran, Narran River), Kurnai, and many others (see file 0.doc) (1)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (3)
- Southern Australia: Dieri, Urabunna (Arabana), Flinderce Mountains, Kujani, Andyamatana (Andjamatana, Wailpi) (1)
- Spain (1)
- Swedes (1)
- Tasmania (1)
- Terek Cossacks (4)
- Transylvanian Saksons (1)
- Wawenock, Abenaki, Penobscot (2)
- Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka) (1)
- Western Ukrainians (4)
Browse the dictionary
61 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| DactylSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Little people and smith and healing spirits | 3 |
| DaemonSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Incorporeal spirit | 3 |
| Dahu | France, Switzerland and the north of Italy | Similar to a deer or ibex; legs on one side of its body are shorter than on the other side | 1 |
| DaidarabotchiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Giant responsible for creating many geographical features in Japan | 5 |
| Daitengu | Japanese | Most powerful class of tengu, each of whom lives on a separate mountain | 5 |
| DaityaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Hindu | Giant | — |
| DakuwaqaAnimals (suggested)Divine and sacred beings (suggested) | Fiji | Shark god | — |
| DanavaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Hindu | Water demon | — |
| Dandan | Arabian | Sea creature | — |
| Dark Watchers | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| Datsue-baHumans (suggested) | Japanese | Old woman who steals clothes from the souls of the dead | 5 |
| Dead Sea Apes | Islamic | Human tribe turned into apes for ignoring Moses' message | — |
| Ded MorozSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Russia | A winter spirit who delivers gifts to children on New Year's Eve | 1 |
| Deer WomanGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Native American | Human-deer hybrid | — |
| DegeiAnimals (suggested)Divine and sacred beings (suggested) | Fiji | Supreme serpent god | — |
| DeityDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Worldwide | Preternatural or supernatural possibly immortal being | — |
| DemigodDivine and sacred beings (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Worldwide | Half human, half god | — |
| DemonsSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Worldwide especially in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic mythology | Evil spirits that torment mortals | — |
| DhampirGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Balkans | Human/vampire hybrid | — |
| Diao Si GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Hanged ghost | 1 |
| DilongGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Earth dragon | 1 |
| DipAnimals (suggested) | Catalan | Demonic and vampiric dog | 1 |
| Di PenatesSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Roman | House spirit | — |
| DipsaAnimals (suggested) | Medieval Bestiaries | Extremely venomous snake | — |
| DirawongSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Australian Aboriginal | Goanna spirit | — |
| Di sma undar jordiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Gotland | Little people and nature spirits | — |
| Diting | China | Horned White Canine | 1 |
| DjallSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Albanian | Devil | 1 |
| Do-gakw-ho-wadSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Abenaki | Little people | 1 |
| Dobhar-chu | Irish | King otter | 1 |
| Dokkaebi | Korean | Grotesque, horned humanoids | 1 |
| DökkálfarSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)The dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Norse | Male ancestral spirits; the Dark Elves | — |
| DolaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Slavic | Tutelary and fate spirit | 27 |
| DomovoiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Slavic | House spirit | 27 |
| Doppelgänger | German | Ghostly double | 1 |
| DracAnimals (suggested) | French | Winged sea serpent | 1 |
| DracAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Catalan | Lion or bull-faced dragon | 1 |
| DragonGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Many cultures worldwide | Fire-breathing and (normally) winged reptiles | — |
| Dragon turtleAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Giant turtle with dragon-like head | 1 |
| DrakainaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Dragons depicted with female characteristics | 3 |
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