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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DrakonGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Greek dragons | 3 |
| DrangueDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Albanian | Semi-human winged warriors | 1 |
| DraugrThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Norse | Undead | — |
| DrekavacThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Slavic | Restless ghost of an unbaptised child | 27 |
| Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeHumans (suggested) | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| Drop BearGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Australian | Large carnivorous koala that hunts by dropping on its prey from trees | 9 |
| DrowSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Scottish | Cavern spirit | 1 |
| DrudeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | German | Possessing demon | 1 |
| DruidHumans (suggested) | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| DrukGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Bhutanese | Dragon | — |
| DryadSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Tree nymph | 3 |
| DuendeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Spanish and Portuguese | Little people and forest spirits | 2 |
| DuergarSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | English | Malevolent little people | 2 |
| DullahanSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Headless death spirit | 1 |
| DuwendeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Philippine | Little people, some are house spirits, others nature spirits | 1 |
| DvergrSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Norse | Subterranean little people smiths | — |
| DvorovoiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Slavic | Courtyard spirit | 27 |
| DwarfSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Germanic | Little people nature spirits | 15 |
| DybbukThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Jewish | Spirit (sometimes the soul of a wicked deceased) that possesses the living | — |
| Dzee-dzee-bon-daGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Abenaki | Hideous monster | 1 |
| DzunukwaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Kwakwaka'wakw | Child-eating hag | 1 |
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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.
0009-0006-1672-4451
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