BriefBestiary

[Top Section] St. Louis Light; Alternate Names: St. Louis Ghost Light, St. Louis Ghost Train; Region: Near St. Louis, Saskatchewan, Canada [Middle Section] A dark silhouette with a large yellowish beam of light emanating from the top and a smaller, red light closer to the base. Accompanied by descriptive text. Glowing light resembling either a swinging lantern, locomotive headlamp, or perhaps even both at once. While popularly described as a ghost train, the other form is a spirit of a decapitated brakeman, conductor, or engineer searching for his head. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Canada Post Stamp, Haunted Canada (2014)

A bright light beaming down at night, following along a path tracks once lay. Be it train or lantern, the phantasm is one of Canada's ghost stories.

[Top Section] Gilaopolis; Region: Canyons near the Gila and Salt Rivers, Arizona, U.S.A. [Middle Section] A large Gila monster, its tongue is currently flopping out. Accompanied by descriptive text. The Gila monsters' gentle giant cousin, Gilaopolis often reach the size of a large calf. Typically quite passive, however when springtime comes, the species enters a frenzy that only fruit juice may quell. They care not if the fruit juice is fresh or canned, just that this thirst is satisfied. If it can't find juice, it may settle for similar looking alternatives such as cans of paint or booze. If a healthy supply of fruit juice is kept to satiate the juice madness in spring, it is quite easy to domesticate a Gilaopolis, acting much like a dog with some work capability, herding cattle and carrying small loads. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

While their claws can tear through cans and their breath can melt through solder when seeking to satiate their seasonal juice craving, the Gilaopolis are largely docile creatures with fairly friendly nature.

[Top Section] Capelobo; Region: Pará, Amazonas, and Maranhão, Brazil [Middle Section] A hairy humanoid with a head resembling a tapir's and round-hoofed feet. Accompanied by descriptive text. A nocturnal, formerly human, creature of the forest with a distinct scream. Either an unnaturally large tapir, or a humanoid with a tapir or anteater head. It is a bit unclear how a human transforms into a capelobo. In place of dying, someone may become a capelobo when reaching a very old age, eating raw meat in the forest, or both. Consumes its victims brains, though some say it will also drink their blood. In absence of that, they may eat newborn cats or dogs. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

The forest-lurking capelobo, sometimes mistaken for a werewolf to a point where some refer to it as the "Northern Werewolf" or "Werewolf of the North."

[Top Section] Heluo; Alternate Names: Heluo Zhi Yu, Heluo Yu, Heluo Fish; Region: Chinese legend in the Qiao River of Qiaoming Mountain [Middle Section] A reddish fish with long dorsal and tail fins. It has ten distinctly separate bodies connected to its singular head. Accompanied by descriptive text. A fish with ten bodies and one head, a physical trait it shares with the Zi fish. Has a voice like a barking dog and consuming its flesh cures tumours and abscesses. Can transform into the nocturnal Xiujiu bird. It cries out as it flies and is known to steal husked rice, then may fall into a mortar and die. This form resembles the Guiche bird, though with ten heads and one body. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Black Myth: Wukong (2024)

A fish some believe may have actually been a misidentified cephalopod. It shares a number of traits with other legendary fish, such as its form resembling that of a Zi, while its ability to transform into a bird is similar to that of the Kun transforming into Peng.

[Top Section] Shichinin Misaki; Region: Japan [Middle Section] Seven translucent humanoids in procession. From left to right they are: a hiker, a businessman, a delinquent, a warrior, a farmer in a raincoat, a child, and a white-robed man with a hat. Accompanied by descriptive text. A set of seven wandering spirits that typically appear near water. To come meet the Shichinin Misaki is certain death, most frequently through high fever. A victim will take the place of one of their members, and it is said that the spirit who caused this death is able to move on. There will always be seven. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: GeGeGe no Kitarō Franchise (2008 - Present)

Seven disastrous spirits bound together, with various variations on their origin. Doubtlessly, their roster would shift with changing times and many years to hunt.

[Top Section] Silky; Region: Northumberland, England [Middle Section] A black-haired woman in burgundy silken dress. Accompanied by descriptive text. A fairy or ghost who once haunted parts of Northumbria, named for the sound of her silken dresses. A night she would spook travelers by suddenly appearing on the road, taking a seat just behind them (her silk rustling all the while), then disappearing just as suddenly some time during the ride. Could control the behaviour of horses, stopping and starting them with hardly a word. Would sometimes dwell in a house, performing housework similar to a hob, although when anyone took initiative to tidy up themself she would cause a great mess in response. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: The Ancient Magus' Bride (2013 - Present); Megami Tensei Franchise (2009 - Present)

Not to be confused with the Scottish selkies. Many a silky disappeared over time, with the particularly well known silky who haunted Black Heddon supposedly disappearing after the discovery of her hidden treasure, a sack of gold.

Oh dang. Its hard for me to give up posting on Instagram since that's where I started BriefBestiary up, but I might have to seriously rethink that.

[Top Section] Monopod; Alternate Names: Monocolus, Sciapod, Skiapod; Region: Greek legend placed in Ethiopia and India [Middle Section] A bearded man laying on his back, his leg is raised upward so that his giant foot would keep sunlight out of his face. Accompanied by descriptive text. A race of one-legged people. Described as fairly small in stature, with a single, large foot. Contrary to expectations from their appearance, monopods can leap about at swift speeds. Their alternate name of the skiapodes refers to how they were said to lie on their backs, their leg raising their foot up to shade themselves from the Sun. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Baudolino (2000); The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)

Diminutive people whose distinctive feature is the single large foot at the end of their leg. Due to their habits, for which they are also known as skiapodes, they were most often depicted in a position lying down, holding up their leg to keep their foot blocking sunlight.

[Top Section] Sinkhole Sam; Alternate Names: Sink Hole Sam, Foopengerkle; Region: The Big Sinkhole, near Inman Lake, Kansas, U.S.A. [Middle Section] A shiny black serpentine creature with a long dorsal fin, a somewhat spiny tail, and a strange, wide grin. Accompanied by descriptive text. A serpentine or worm-like creature of the early to mid-1900s once claimed to dwell within Inman Lake's Big Sinkhole. Sam's tail is said to be fluted and it is said to have a strange grin that is unlike that of a snake's. 15ft (4.57m) long, and wide around as a tire. Originally sighted by two Mennonite fishermen, one of whom fired his rifle at Sam, though it seemed unharmed. In a tongue-in-cheek article, Ernest Alva Dewey's fictional Dr. Erasmus P. Quattlebaum claimed Sam to be an extinct foopengerkle that did not know it was extinct. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: MetaZoo TCG, Cryptid Nation 1st Edition (2021)

As described in the Salina Journal, Sinkhole Sam was a foopengerkle, a creature that is extinct beyond extinct, as there were no female members of its species.

Dewey also claimed the species were harmless vegetarians, but since it did not realize it is extinct, it may have forgotten this fact too.

[Top Section] Storsjöodjuret; Alternate Names: Great Lake Monster, Storsie; Region: Storsjön, Jämtland, Sweden [Middle Section] A black serpentine creature with pale yellow eyes preparing to bite its own tail. Accompanied by descriptive text. A Swedish lake monster whose legend began in the early 17th century. It was long enough to wrap around Frösön and bite its tail. Supposedly it is restrained due to the legendary Kettil Runske's carving of a runic spell upon the Frösöstenen. A version of the legend says the creature was brewed in a cauldron by two trolls, a serpentine creature with a cat-like head.

The Great Lake Monster of Storsjön, the Storsjöodjuret continued to have sightings well into the 19th century, with some variety in the descriptions of its physical appearance.

[Top Section] Besta-Fera; Alternate Name: Bestafera; Region: Brazil [Middle Section] A being with the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a man where a horse's head would be. He brandishes a whip in his right hand. Accompanied by descriptive text. A terrifying beast that stampeded through full moon nights. Sometimes described as an incarnation of the Devil who gallops from Hell and carries a whip to strike animals, including the pack of dogs that may accompany him. Applies a mysterious "mark of the beast" to those condemned to Hell. Sometimes described with the head of a dog. Inflicts temporary madness upon those who glimpse its face. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A menacing, half-horse half-man being that is believed to have originated with Portuguese settlers in Brazil. It seems to disappear into a tomb or graveyard at the end of its wild sprint upon Earth's surface.

Besta-Fera does not seem to directly harm any humans.

[Top Section] Teke Teke; Region: Japan [Middle Section] A pale woman with long, messy black hair. She appears to be missing the entirety of her lower body, balancing on her arms instead. In the grasp of her left arms appears to be a sickle. Blood stains her hands, the ends of her sleeves, and the ragged bottom of her shirt. Accompanied by descriptive text. An onryō missing the lower half of her body. Despite this, she is capable of running on her arms to catch her victims, rushing faster than cars. Named after the sound she makes when running. Has many variations to the legend, such as her injury being caused by suicide, accident, murder, etc. Her death could occur at a train station or via a different vehicle. She may have died immediately, or she crawled to a train station while bleeding out, seeking help. Sometimes she is attributed with the name Kashima Reiko, an onryō also often depicted missing her legs. Sometimes said to carry a sickle that she uses to bisect her victims horizontally. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Teke Teke: Moonlight Dread (2021); Teketeke (2009; Teketeke 2 (2009)

A rather grim urban legend, the teke teke is most often the spirit of a young woman, though rarely the spirit may be male. In the cases where she isn't Kashime Reiko, it seems there is typically no escape.

[Top Section] Jufu; Region: Chinese legend on Chongwu Mountain [Middle Section] A sitting brown monkey with striped arms and a thick, leopard-like tail. In one hand it grips a stone. Accompanied by descriptive text. A monkey-like animal described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Has some minor attributes of a tiger or leopard, as well as the strength of one such beast. Primarily known for their throwing ability, taking stones and flinging them with their great strength. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture:

A strong-armed monkey, although outside of their penchant for lobbing rocks, not much else of its habits are described.

[Top Section] Leucrocota; Alternate Names: Leucrocotta, Lentocrota, Leucrota, Lentroca, Crocotta, Corocotta, Corocroces, Corochrotes; Region: Greek and Roman legend placed in Ethiopia or India [Middle Section] A cloven-hoofed beast with a wide mouth, a sharp bone tooth on both jaws. A messy mane frames its face and stretches from its chest to the center of its back. Accompanied by descriptive text. Wide-mouthed beast somewhat similar to hyenas. Due to close similarities with another beast, called the corocotta, they soon became conflated, with many of the traits that defined them different blending into one beast. Can imitate a human voice. Has no gums and solid edges of bone instead of teeth. Born of a hyena and a lioness. The fastest running beast. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Magic the Gathering TCG (2014); Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel (2004)

A beast whose voice calls its prey out by name. Quick, with strong jaws that stretch from ear to ear.

[Top Section] Ice Worm; Alternate Name: Vermes Frigidus; Region: Northern North America [Middle Section] Grey worms emerging from below with long, jagged jaws. Accompanied by descriptive text. Cold-dwelling critters. Not to be confused with the worms of the genus Mesenchytraeus that go by the same name. Found within glaciers and icecaps. When conditions turn for the sever the ice worms will move, shifting closer to the ice's surface and begin to chirp and cry, often within the vicinity of homes. The noise their voices create seem to be that of a "ing-icka-ing-icka-ing" and so forth. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

Wriggling critters of the ice caps. Great worms that become noisy when the weather transitions for the worse.

[Top Section] Elverkongens Datter; Alternate Names: Ellekongens Datter, Erlkönigs Tochter; Region: Parts of Scandinavia [Middle Section] A hazy, pale woman wrapped in a dark cloak. Her eyes are piercingly green and her dark hair blends into the shadows of her cloak. She tugs at one collar with her right hand. Accompanied by descriptive text. The elf king's daughter, said to be one of the likely predecessor legends to the more famous Erlking. Temptress in the woods, acting to fulfill her own desires, be they lustful or vengeful. She seems to spirit away or outright kill those she lures, or it seems she may even curse those who spurn her to die to sickness later. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A death-bringing beauty, the demise of both those who accept her advances and those who deny her desires.

"Elveskud", is a ballad in an archetype involving her. Variations describe Sir Olof's death at her hand, when she is in the narrative. Some involve her use of the sickness-bringing elf-shot.

[Top Section] Cihuateteo; Region: Aztec Mesoamerica [Middle Section] A woman sitting on her legs, her clawed hands resting on her knees. A pair of snakes act as a belt for her waist cloths, but she wears little else. Her other clothing consists of a necklace with a skull, round earrings, and a grass headdress. Her face appears skull-like as well. Accompanied by descriptive text. The spirits of women who died during childbirth. Equivalent to the souls of warriors who died in battle, as women captured the soul of their newborn just as warriors capture enemy combatants. Dwell in Cihuatlampa and escort the Sun from noon to sunset, though some say they may further attend it through the underworld until sunrise. Return to Earth on specific days, as denoted by the markings on the back of the head of sculptures of these beings, those days being: 1 deer, 1 Monkey, 1 Rain, 1 Eagle, and 1 House. Dangerous while on Earth, spiriting away children at crossroads. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: GeGeGe no Kitarō Franchise (1986)

Women who perished during labor. Having captured the soul of their unborn child, they transform into a spirit of the dead that spends the majority of its time in either Cihuatlampa or guiding the Sun.

[Top Section] Chirizuka Kaiō; Region: Japan [Middle Section] A red humanoid with a golden leaf crown and long ragged hair. His clawed hands are gripped across the lid of the chest in front of him, ready to tear it open. Accompanied by descriptive text. A yokai that represents built up worldly attachments. He is the king of the dust head and the king of tsukumogami. While he is popularly described as the tsukumogami king, and is depicted releasing many from an old chest, it seems he was first described as king of yamauba, though this relationship is hazy. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Destiny of Spirits (2014 - 2015); Touhou Project Franchise [Chirizuka Ameba] (2025)

King of the dust heap, where worldly attachments build up when not properly managed. His counterpart is the book cart tsukumogami, Fuguruma Yōhi.

[Top Section] L'Home dels Nassos; Alternate Names: Hombre de las Narices, Home d'os 365 Nasos; Region: Regions of Spain including: Catalonia, Aragon, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands, Navarra, etc. [Middle Section] A man in a green top hat, blue jacket, brown slacks, and black shoes. He has a large nose, as well as numerous other noses scattered across his face, arms, legs, and hand. He only has around seventeen visible noses on his body in this image, so it seems to capture him fairly late in the year. It seems the day has turned and one nose has fallen to the ground behind him, soon to disappear. Accompanied by descriptive text. The Man of Many Noses, a legendary figure said to have as many noses as there are days in the year. L'home dels nassos loses a nose for every day that passes after new year, until December 31st where he walks around with only one. Humourously enough, he can seemingly only be seen on the last day of the year, and this is the only day where looking for him is encouraged. L'Home de les Orelles is a similar character who has as many ears as days in a year but only appears on December 30th. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: The Monster of Many Noses [L'Home dels Nassos] (2024)

The Home dels Nassos is a man who starts every year with at least three hundred sixty-five noses and ends the year walking among other people with just one on his face.

[Top Section] Flying Reindeer; Region: The North Pole [Middle Section] A reindeer that seems to be prancing into flight. Accompanied by descriptive text. Air-travel capable reindeer of Santa Claus/Christmas folklore. Famed in Santa-related Christmas legend as the animals that pull his sleigh across the night sky during Christmas Eve. Their names as listed in the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder, and Blixen. Dunder would eventually become Donner, while Blixen would be changed to Blitzen. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Prancer (1989); Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964); Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)

Merry Christmas! Among the whimsical collective of Santa Claus's popular image in culture, his sleigh-pulling reindeer are an indispensable fixture.

[Top Section] Leprocaun; Alternate Name: Simiidiabolus hibernicus horribillis; Region: Ontario, Canada [Middle Section] A partially crouched humanoid in torn grey breeches. His red hair is wild and messy, and his teeth and nails are pointed and sharp. Accompanied by descriptive text. An unfortunate transformation of normally fairly safe fae. It seems that young leprechauns who tagged along with their fellow Irish immigrants went mad out in the Canadian wilderness, going practically feral across the tamarack swamps. Vicious, with razor sharp teeth and claws. Stealthy beings, though they could take great leaps and bounds in pursuit of food. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A creature not really in season for this time of year, but one I couldn't resist finally covering despite that fact. Solitary fae turned completely wild in Canada's tamarack swampland.

[Top Section] Scitalis; Alternate Names: Scytale, Scytalus, Sytula; Origin: Medieval Legend [Middle Section] A somewhat brown snake with yellow eyes, its back is obscured by glittering scales and light. Accompanied by descriptive text. A serpent with a back marked with scales that gleam brightly in the sunlight. A slow-moving serpent, it utilizes the gleaming patterns upon its back to daze its prey, slowing them enough that it can approach them with relative ease. The temperature of its body is so high on average that it is known to shed its skin even in winter. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Guardian Cross (2012/2013)

A hot, shining-backed snake. The scitalis is known for having an arrangement of glittering scales upon its back, leaving its prey stunned from seeing the glistening creature.

[Top Section] Lazy Laurence; Alternate Name: Lazy Lawrence; Region: The New Forest, England [Middle Section] A young man with messy black hair, a hat that partially covers his face, red jacket over a white button-up, and green trousers. Accompanied by descriptive text. A character representing laziness to an extreme degree. According to "The History of Lawrence Lazy" it seems he was simply a slothful lad who obtained a red magic ring that put others to sleep with his gaze. Under the report of Ruth Tongue, he would become popularly known as an orchard-guarding sprite. In Hampshire, he was said to be able to transform into a galloping colt-pixy. He also seemed to paralyze victims till morning when they met his green-eyed gaze. Guarded fruit from thieves, his abilities seem to include inflicting his target with laziness and listlessness, although he might also cause indigestion or magically trip them. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Final Fantasy XIV, Patch 2.0 (2013)

A slothful young man, currently widely known as a sprite who seems to be fairly effective as a guardian of orchards.

[Top Section] Abura Sumashi; Region: Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan [Middle Section] A greyish-blue older humanoid with an oversized head. He appears to be wearing a straw coat and carries a walking stick in his right hand an a bottle marked "abura", meaning oil, in his left. Accompanied by descriptive text. A mountain-dwelling yokai. If you happen to be within the mountains and passes of Kumamoto and speak about how he used to live here, he'll reply that he still does. Rarely, it seems he'll even spontaneously appear in front of travelers to chastise them about talking about someone who is listening to them. Primarily believed to be the spirits of oil thieves. The common depiction of this yokai was popularized by Shigeru Mizuki, a mangaka famous for his depictions of various yokai. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: GeGeGe no Kitarō Franchise (1969 - Present)

Literally meaning "oil presser", it is typically thought that the spirits of those who stole oil, during a time period where it was a precious commodity, would become this yokai.

[Top Section] Sasabonsam; Alternate Names: Asanbosam, Asasabonsam, Susabonsam; Region: Parts of Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, & Togo [Middle Section] A pinkish humanoid with long arms with claws and long, curled legs that terminate in hooks. It has long, straight, dark red hair. Its ears are curved and pointed and its teeth are sharp iron. It seems to have vaguely wing-like membranes stretching from its wrists to its hips. Accompanied by descriptive text. Humanoid beings said to come from Asante folklore. They hang from forest trees, catching their prey with their hook-like feet. Its teeth are iron, and it hangs its legs down from high in the trees. Often sasabonsam is considered distinct from asabonsam, having differences such as wings or hooks. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Black Leopard, Red Wolf (2019)

Monstrous beings known to dwell high in trees, and if someone goes too far into the forest, they're likely to go missing within the creature's territory.

[Top Section] Hantu Balung Bidai; Alternate Names: Hantu Bidai, Sulur Bidar; Region: Malaysia [Middle Section] A white, square woven mat. Each of its four corners appears to have a mouth resembling that of a softshell turtle's. Accompanied by descriptive text. Lurking aquatic spirits. They drift through bodies of water, patiently waiting for a victim to enter the water. Some describe it with the appearance of a simple mat, however it seems that it has mouths resembling those of a softshell turtle's at each of its corners. Sometimes described instead as a round-headed serpent with smaller venomous serpents for hair. Some say its presence can be identified by bubbles rising from beneath the water's surface, bringing up dry leaves from below. Wraps itself around its victims and drowns them. May also be capable of overturning boats. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

An enigmatic being, though its variations each have their distinct forms. Regardless, it likely cares not how it is perceived, simply ready for more hapless humans to find their way to it.

[Top Section] Whirling Wampus; Region: Minnesota, U.S.A. [Middle Section] A white-furred feline beast that appears to be rotating clockwise. Accompanied by descriptive text. A fiercely swirling beast, it is unclear if it is a relative of the ape-like whirling whimpus, the infamous wampus cat, or perhaps neither critter. When it comes upon prey it grasps them with its forearms in a tight embrace that tends to squeeze its prey's life out. Dangerous but rare, seeming to only come out to hunt during blizzards, itself whirling through the fierce snowfall. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

Blizzard-bound beasts, a whirling creature that adds to the danger of being outside during such a heavy snowstorm.

[Top Section] Alphoraz; Alternate Names: Albures, Alforas, Alforus; Origin: Medieval Legend [Middle Section] A murky brown fish with long, tattered fins and pale white eyes. Accompanied by descriptive text. A somewhat strange fish, alphoraz manifest from rotting mud when ponds or lakes are without water. An alphoraz begins life as a worm, then when water once again fills the lake this worm-like form will metamorphose into its fish form. As a fish, the alphoraz has a short lifespan, quickly deteriorating within water. Supposedly, if its head and eyes remain, it will eventually rise again for a much longer life. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: TrawledFromTheDeep [Figurine on Etsy]

A creature possessing a strange life cycle; spontaneously generated in the form of a worm by rotting mud, transforming into a fish when water levels return to normal, then quickly rotting away itself.

[Top Section] Brollachan; Alternate Name: Grollican; Region: Scotland [Middle Section] An hazy thing with primarily undefined shape, however it has a visible pair of eyes and a mouth. Accompanied by descriptive text. Shapeless things, in the Sutherland story about the Mill of the Fuath, the brollachan is described as the child of the Fuath. Lacks shape and form, however it is known to be capable of having a pair of eyes and a mouth. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: The Moon of Gomrath (1963); Knightmare, Season 7 (1993)

Child of the Fuath, horrid water spirits. A hazy thing lacking a defined body.

[Top Section] Shumoku Musume; Region: Usui Pass, Japan [Middle Section] A pale yellow humanoid in a peach-coloured kimono. Her head is a distinct shape, with large bulbous eyes at either end. Accompanied by descriptive text. A female yokai that is primarily known for her appearance on cards in some obake kurata decks, though she also appeared in some prints. Named after the shumoku, a type of mallet, that her head somewhat resembles. Other than her head, name, and home area, little about this yokai girl are known. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

Mysterious young women yokai. While she was supposedly found along Usui Pass, its unclear what exactly she may do.