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
19 creatures at 47 tradition locations · 25 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
- Athna (1)
- Beaver (1)
- Carrier (1)
- Chilkotin (1)
- China (3)
- Chipewyan (1)
- Chiricahua (1)
- Denaina (1)
- Dogrib, Slavey (1)
- Dutch, Flemish (1)
- England (1)
- England, British, Bretons (1)
- Europe (2)
- 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 (2)
- Germany (2)
- Gwich'in (Kuchin, Loucheux) (1)
- Han (1)
- Hare (K'ahsho Got'ine) (1)
- Hupa, Chilula (1)
- Ingalik (Der Hit’an) (1)
- Japan (2)
- Japan (2)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (2)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (2)
- Jicarilla (1)
- Kaska (1)
- Kiowa Apache (1)
- Koyukon (1)
- Lipan (1)
- Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken) (1)
- Mapuche (1)
- Mescalero (1)
- Navajo (1)
- Netherlands (1)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (2)
- Oregon Athabaskans: Lower Umpqua, Tututni (incl Joshua), Upper Coquille, Galice, Tolowa (1)
- Paya (Pech), Sumu, Misquito (1)
- People's Republic of China (3)
- Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina) (1)
- Scotland, Scots, Picts, Scotti, Scottish (3)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (2)
- Tagish (1)
- Tahltan (1)
- Tanana (1)
- Tsetsaut (1)
- Tutchone (1)
- Upper Kuskokwim (Kolchan) (1)
- Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross (1)
- Wailaki, Mattole, Lassik, Sinkyone, Cahto (1)
- Wawenock, Abenaki, Penobscot (3)
- Western Apache (White Mountain, San Carlos) (1)
- Yellowknife (1)
Browse the dictionary
44 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| WulverSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Scottish | Wolf-headed humanoid spirit | 1 |
| Wu Tou GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Beheaded ghost | 1 |
| WyrmAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | European | Dragon or serpent | — |
| Wyvern | Germanic Heraldic | Flying reptile, usually with two legs and two wings | — |
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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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