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
Explore by place
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
12 creatures at 41 tradition locations · 18 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)
- Bosnia Muslims (2)
- Bosnians (2)
- Bulgarians, Balkarians (2)
- Byelarusians, Belarusians (2)
- Cherokee (1)
- Croatians, Croats; Italians of Dalmatia (if the motif is absent among other Italians) (2)
- Czech, Czechs (2)
- Early Russian written sources (2)
- Eastern Ukrainians (2)
- England (1)
- England, British, Bretons (1)
- India (1)
- Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples (1)
- Japan (2)
- Japan (2)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (2)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (2)
- Kashubians (2)
- Lenape (Delaware) (1)
- Lithuania (1)
- Lithuanians (1)
- Macedonians, Balkarians (2)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (2)
- Northern Ukrainians (2)
- Persians (1)
- Poles (2)
- 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)
- Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians (2)
- Siberian Tatars (1)
- Slovakians, Slovaks (2)
- Slovenians, Slovenes (2)
- Sorbians (Luzhitsa Serbs) (2)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (2)
- Sweden (1)
- Swedes (1)
- Terek Cossacks (2)
- Western Ukrainians (2)
Browse the dictionary
30 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| RåSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Norse | Spirit that protects a specific place | — |
| RabisuSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Akkadian | Vampiric spirit that ambushes people | — |
| RadandeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Swedish | Tree spirit | 1 |
| RaganaHumans (suggested) | Lithuanian | Malevolent witch | 1 |
| RaijūSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Lightning spirit | 5 |
| Rain BirdSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Native American | Rain spirit | — |
| Rainbow crowAnimals (suggested)Spirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Lenape | Crow spirit | 1 |
| Rainbow SerpentAnimals (suggested) | Australian Aboriginal | Snake | — |
| RakshasaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Buddhist and Hindu | Shapeshifting demon | — |
| Ramidreju | Cantabrian | Extremely long, weasel-like animal | — |
| RangdaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Balinese | the demon queen of the Leyaks, witches/sorcerers | — |
| RarógSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Slavic | Whirlwind spirit | 27 |
| RatatoskrSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Norse | Squirrel spirit | — |
| Raven MockerSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Cherokee | Life-draining spirit | 1 |
| Raven SpiritSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Native American, Norse, and Siberian | Trickster spirit | 1 |
| Redcap | English | Evil, ugly humanoid | 2 |
| ReichsadlerAnimals (suggested) | Heraldic | Eagle, sometimes depicted with two heads | — |
| RephaiteGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Jewish | Giant | — |
| Reptilian humanoidGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Global | Human-lizard hybrid | — |
| RevenantThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Worldwide | Reanimated dead | — |
| Re’em | Jewish | Gigantic land animal | — |
| RocAnimals (suggested) | Arabian and Persian | Gigantic bird | 1 |
| RokobakanicevaAnimals (suggested)Divine and sacred beings (suggested) | Fijian | Octopus goddess who defeated Dakuwaqa | — |
| Rokurokubi | Japanese | Long-necked, humanoid trickster | 5 |
| Rompo | Africa and India | Skeletal creature with elements of a rabbit, badger, and bear | 1 |
| RougarouGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | French America | Human-wolf shapeshifter | — |
| Rübezahl | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| RusalkaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Slavic | Female water spirit | 27 |
| RyūGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Not specified | Japanese dragon | — |
| RồngGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Not specified | (Vietnamese) dragon | — |
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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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