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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunda | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| Tupilaq | Inuit | Animated construct | — |
| TurehuSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Māori | Pale spirit | 1 |
| Türst | Swiss | legendary figure who turns people into dogs | — |
| TurulAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Hungarian | Giant falcon that helped shape the origins of the Magyars | 1 |
| TygerAnimals (suggested) | Heraldry | Like a real tiger, but lacks stripes; has the tufted tail of a lion and a thick mane along the neck like a horse | — |
| Tylwyth TegSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Welsh | Nature spirit | 1 |
| TyphonAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Winged, snake-legged giant | 3 |
| TzitzimitlSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Aztec | Skeletal star spirit | 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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