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
53 creatures at 75 tradition locations · 36 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)
- Ancient Greece (6)
- Asia (1)
- Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography (1)
- Basques (1)
- Bosnia Muslims (2)
- Bosnians (2)
- Bulgarians, Balkarians (2)
- Byelarusians, Belarusians (2)
- Cherokee (1)
- China (4)
- Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan (1)
- Chontal (1)
- Chorti (1)
- Croatians, Croats; Italians of Dalmatia (if the motif is absent among other Italians) (2)
- Czech, Czechs (2)
- Danes, Danish (1)
- Early Russian written sources (2)
- Eastern Ukrainians (2)
- Egypt (1)
- England (1)
- England, British, Bretons (1)
- Faroe Islands (1)
- Finland (1)
- Finns (1)
- France (1)
- France (1)
- Greece (6)
- Greeks (modern), Balkarians (6)
- Greeks of Cyprus (6)
- Huastec (Teenek) (1)
- Hungarians (1)
- Hungary (1)
- Icelanders (1)
- Japan (17)
- Japan (17)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (17)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (17)
- Kashubians (2)
- Kekchi; Mopan (1)
- Lacandon (1)
- Macedonians, Balkarians (2)
- Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken) (1)
- Mam, Ixil, Aguatec, Avakatec (1)
- Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands) (4)
- Mestizos of Soconuzco; Cotzumapguapa iconography (1)
- Mexico (1)
- Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong (1)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (17)
- Northern Ukrainians (2)
- Norwegians (1)
- People's Republic of China (4)
- Persians (1)
- Philippines (3)
- Philippines (3)
- Poles (2)
- Portugal (1)
- Portuguese, Portugal (1)
- 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)
- Scandinavia (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)
- Slovakians, Slovaks (2)
- Slovenians, Slovenes (2)
- Sorbians (Luzhitsa Serbs) (2)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (17)
- Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan (1)
- Spain (1)
- Swedes (1)
- Taiwan (1)
- Terek Cossacks (2)
- Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec (1)
- Tzeltal (1)
- Tzotzil (1)
- Tzutujil (1)
- Wales (1)
- Wawenock, Abenaki, Penobscot (1)
- Western Ukrainians (2)
- Yucatec, Itza (1)
- Zulu, Swazi (1)
Browse the dictionary
89 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three haresAnimals (suggested) | Many cultures worldwide | Symbolic animal | — |
| ThunderbirdSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Native American | Avian lightning bird spirit | — |
| TiangouGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Meteoric dog | 1 |
| TianlongGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Celestial dragon | 1 |
| TibicenaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Canarian | Evil dog | — |
| Tiddy MunSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | English | Bog spirit | 2 |
| TigmamanukanAnimals (suggested) | Philippine | Asian fairy bluebird | 1 |
| Tigris (Jewish)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Not specified | Giant lion | — |
| TikbalangSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Philippine | Anthropomorphic horse | 1 |
| TikolosheSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Zulu | Little people and water spirit | 1 |
| TimingilaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Hindu | Sea monster | — |
| TipuaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Māori | Spirit that protects a specific place | 1 |
| TitanDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Greek | Primeval god | 3 |
| TiyanakSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)The dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Philippine | Demons that are souls of dead unbaptized babies | 1 |
| TizherukGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Inuit | Sea serpent | — |
| TlahuelpuchiHumans (suggested) | Tlaxcalan | Shapeshifting vampire | — |
| Tōfu-kozōSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Spirit child carrying a block of tofu | 5 |
| Toire-no-HanakosanThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | Ghost who lurks in grade school restroom stalls | 5 |
| TomteSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Scandinavian | House spirit | 6 |
| Tooth fairySpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| TopielecSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)The dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Slavic | Water spirit | 27 |
| TōtetsuGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Greed spirit | 5 |
| ToyolSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)The dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Malay | Servant spirit | 1 |
| TrasgoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Spanish and Portuguese | Grotesque, mischievous little people | 2 |
| TraucoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Chilota | Fertility spirit | — |
| TrentiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Cantabrian | Diminutive demon | — |
| Trickster | Not specified | Character in a story which exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge, and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and conventional behaviour | — |
| TripurasuraSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Hindu | Demonic inhabitants of Tripura | — |
| TritonsSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Male human-fish hybrid | 3 |
| TrollSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Norse | Nature spirit | — |
| TrowSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Orkney and Shetland | Little people and nature spirits | — |
| Tsi-nooSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Abenaki | Vampiric demon | 1 |
| TsuchigumoAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Shapeshifting, giant spider | 5 |
| TsuchinokoAnimals (suggested) | Japanese | Plump snake-like creature | 5 |
| TsukumogamiPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Inanimate object that becomes animated after existing for 100 years | 5 |
| Tsul 'KaluSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Cherokee | Giant nature spirit | 1 |
| Tsurara-onna | Japanese | Icicle woman | 5 |
| Tsurube-otoshiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Monster which drops or lowers a bucket from the top of a tree to catch people | 5 |
| Tugarin Zmeyevich | Slavic | Evil shapeshifter | 27 |
| Tulpa | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
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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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