Cryptids By Country World Map: List Of Most Popular Mythical Creatures

Map created by CashNetThe map above shows the Cryptids you can find in each country around the world.

And below you can find a more detailed look at each continent with a full list of mythical creatures you might be able to find there:

Mythical Creatures & Cryptids of Europe

 

Country	Mythical Creature Name	Type of Cryptid	Description
Albania	Dev	Monstrous ogre-like creatures	Giants with two horns.
Andorra	Vibria	Wicked dragon	A female dragon depicted as "having exposed female breasts, a long and fiery tongue protruding from an eagle-beak, scale covered body, a serpentine tail and wings.'
Armenia	Dev	Monstrous ogre-like creatures	Giants with two horns.
Austria	Krampus	Demon who punishes misbehaving children	Horned half-goat half-demon
Belarus	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
Belgium	Gnome	Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.	A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Tur	Giant bull	A giant bull that lives underground, causing earthquakes
Bulgaria	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
Croatia	Krampus	Demon who punishes misbehaving children	Horned half-goat half-demon
Cyprus	Centaur	Greek mythological creature with upper body of a human and lower body of a horse	The upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse.
Czech Republic	Golem	A clay automaton brought to life by magic	A hulking humanoid statue made from clay and animated by magic
Denmark	Neck	Water spirit	Always male in Belgium, the neck has a human head, chest, and arms, but a horse-like body undr the water.
England	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire
Estonia	Giant	Beings of human appearance, prodigious in size	Giants vary in size, but are always humanoids who are vastly taller and larger then humans.
Finland	Haltija	Elf-like creatures that provide the inspiration for Santa's elves	Small and human-like, they are the origin of the Santa elf myth and image
France	Gargoyle	Winged stone creatures that scare away evil	Winged, stone-skinned monstrosities that perch in high places
Germany	Dwarves	Entity that dwells in mountains and in the earth and is variously associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting	Dwarfs in folklore are usually described as old men with long beards
Greece	Griffin	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion
Hungary	Ördög	Shapeshifting demonic creature	Ördög is often thought to look somewhat like a satyr or faun, a humanoid with the upper torso of a human male and lower portions of a goat; usually pitch-black, with cloven hooves, ram-like horns, a long tail ending in a blade; and he carries a pitchfork.
Iceland	Huldufólk (elves)	Elf-like creatures	Large in build, their clothes are all grey, and their hair black. Their dwellings are in mounds, and they are also called Elves
Ireland	Leprechaun	Fairy-like creatures	A leprechaun usually taking the form of an old man with red or white beard, clad in a red or green coat. Popular depiction shows the leprechaun as being no taller than a small child, with a beard and hat, sitting on a toadstool.
Italy	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire
Kosovo	Vampire	Blood-drinkers who prey on humans	Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow
Latvia	Werewolf	A person who transforms into a wolf	When werewolves were in their animal form, it is said that there are surprisingly few differences between the creature and an actual wolf. One of the biggest indicators of a werewolf would be the absence of a tail – though Swedish folklore suggests that some werewolves ran on three legs and held their fourth leg out behind them to appear like a normal wolf from a distance. It was also thought that werewolves had human eyes and voices.
Liechtenstein	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire
Lithuania	Vampire	Blood-drinkers who prey on humans	Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow
Luxembourg	Gnome	Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.	A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man
Malta	Giant	Beings of human appearance, prodigious in size	Giants vary in size, but are always humanoids who are vastly taller and larger then humans.
Moldova	Balaur	Type of dragon	A balaur is a creature in Moldavian andRomanian folklore, similar to a European dragon. This creature is quite large, has fins, feet, and it usually has three, sometimes seven, or even twelve serpent heads.
Monaco	Dames blanches	Female spirits	Hey hold the appearance of beautiful ladies with long hair and, as their name indicated, they wear white gowns. In certain stories, they seem to hold certain resemblances to the Irish Banshees.
Montenegro	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
Netherlands	Gnome	Dwarfish, subterranean goblin or earth spirit who guards mines of precious treasures hidden in the earth.	A small, physically deformed (usually hunchbacked) creature resembling a dry, gnarled old man
North Macedonia	Vampire	Blood-drinkers who prey on humans	Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow
Norway	Troll	Large, rock-like giants	Unlike their forest-dwelling cousins, cave trolls live completely underground and are generally depicted as smaller than humans with a large round abdomen and short stubby arms and legs. These are more akin to the trolls that help Queen Elsa in Frozen.
Poland	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
Portugal	Coco	Spirit that abducts children	It is not the way the Coco looks but what it does that scares most. It is a child eater and a kidnapper; it may immediately devour the child, leaving no trace, or it may spirit the child away to a place of no return, but it only does this to disobedient children. It is on the lookout for children's misbehavior from the rooftops; it takes the shape of any dark shadow and stays watching.[16] It represents the opposite of the guardian angel and is frequently compared to the devil. Others see the Coco as a representation of the deceased of the local community.[17]
Romania	Balaur	Type of dragon	A balaur is a creature in Moldavian andRomanian folklore, similar to a European dragon. This creature is quite large, has fins, feet, and it usually has three, sometimes seven, or even twelve serpent heads.
Russia	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
San Marino	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire
Scotland	Unicorn	Magical horned horse	Unicorns appear as magestic horses with a single horn emerging from their forehead.
Serbia	Vampire	Blood-drinkers who prey on humans	Vampires are typically said to be of pale skin and range in appearance from grotesque to preternaturally beautiful, with fangs, depending on the tale. Another frequently cited physical characteristic is the inability to cast a reflection or shadow
Slovakia	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
Slovenia	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire
Spain	Coco	Spirit that abducts children	It is not the way the Coco looks but what it does that scares most. It is a child eater and a kidnapper; it may immediately devour the child, leaving no trace, or it may spirit the child away to a place of no return, but it only does this to disobedient children. It is on the lookout for children's misbehavior from the rooftops; it takes the shape of any dark shadow and stays watching.[16] It represents the opposite of the guardian angel and is frequently compared to the devil. Others see the Coco as a representation of the deceased of the local community.[17]
Sweden	Elf	Beautiful, magical creatures that inhabit forests	An elf has a beautiful and seductive appearance, while being able to do magic and illusions. There are different types of elf that have been described;half transparent spirit, adult women sizes and small fairy sizes. There is a common saying in Sweden, which is ‘the elves are dancing in the mist’, as elves are associated with the mist.
Switzerland	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire
Ukraine	Baba Yaga	Witch	A wrinkled, white-haired old hag, who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs
Wales	Dragon	Monstrous winged serpents that breathe fire	European dragons are depicted in various colors, but typically have wings and breathe fire

Mythical Creatures & Cryptids of Africa

Country	Mythical Creature Name	Type of Cryptid	Description
Algeria	Al-Rhuban	Half-human-half-jinn	A human by appearance, but with pale skin, long fingers, blue eyes and yellow eyelashes. Always keeps hands in its pockets.
Angola	Kongamato	Large pterosaur-like creature	It is described as a reddish lizard with membranous wings and teeth in its beak. Its wingspan ranges from 4 to 100 feet across.
Benin	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Botswana	Tokiloshe	Dwarf-like water sprite	Small water sprites, withered and gray, with gouged-out eyesand a hole in its skull.
Burkina Faso	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Burundi	Gustave	Legendary crocodile	Massive Nile crocodile that was long considered a myth; estimated to be over 18 feet long and more than 2000 pounds.
Cameroon	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Cape Verde	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Central African Republic	Mokele-mbembe	Dinosaur-like creature	Described as some kind of dinosaur, seemingly akin to the brontosaurus.
Chad	Auli	Water creature	An animal the size of a sheep that lives in Lake Chad, resembling a manatee
Comoros	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Congo (Democratic Republic of the)	Eloko	Malicious dwarf race	An Eloko has grass for a beard, clothes made of leaves, and usually carries a bell, which is used to attract and bewitch unsuspecting humans.
Congo (Republic of the)	Emela-ntouka	Monstrous beast, killer of elephants	described as a hairless elephant-sized animal with a crocodile-like tail and a large horn on its nose.
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Djibouti	Shaitan	Demons	depicted as ugly and grotesque creatures of hell-fire.
Equatorial Guinea	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Eritrea	Zar	Human-possessing spirit	Invisible spirits that possess the living
Ethiopia	Holawaka	Legendary bird	A colorful, mythical bird.
Gabon	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Ghana	Adze	Vampiric firefly	In the wild, the adze takes the form of a firefly,
Guinea	jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Guinea-Bissau	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Kenya	Nandi bear	A ferocious bear-like beast	Descriptions of the Nandi bear are of a ferocious, powerfully built carnivore with high front shoulders (over four feet tall) and a sloping back. Stories of the Nandi bear state that it is fierce, nocturnal, stands on its hind legs and can kill animals
Lesotho	Dragon	Giant serpent-like creatures inhabiting the local mountains	Giant serpent-like creatures inhabiting the local mountains
Liberia	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Libya	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Madagascar	Antamba	Dog-like creature	A dog-sized animal with a round head, resembling a leopard, and is said to kill both cattle and people
Malawi	Nyuvwira	Multi-headed snake	A nyuvwira has eight heads and is the largest snake in the world. It generates electricity and lights at night. It lives underground, which is fortunate as it is extremely toxic.
Mali	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Mauritania	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Mauritius	Soucouyant	Witch	An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.
Morocco	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Mozambique	Shetani	Devil-like creatures	Physically, shetani of various types appear as distorted human and animal figures.
Namibia	Namibian Flying Snake	Gargantuan flying serpent	Described as a gargantuan serpent, yellow, brown with light spots, black, a bioluminescent crest, horns, a neck that can inflate and deflate, and leathery bat-like wings.
Niger	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Nigeria	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Rwanda	Nandi bear	A ferocious bear-like beast	Descriptions of the Nandi bear are of a ferocious, powerfully built carnivore with high front shoulders (over four feet tall) and a sloping back. Stories of the Nandi bear state that it is fierce, nocturnal, stands on its hind legs and can kill animals
Sao Tome and Principe	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Senegal	Kikiyaon	Owl-headed flying monster	It is described as resembling a large owl, especially its head. It has a huge beak and raking talons on its arms and feet. In many respects it is a mixture of bird and human. The Bambara people say it has a huge pair of feathered wings which grow from its back; the shoulder joint of which is tipped with a sharp spur, a deadly weapon if its talons fail. The most terrifying feature is the presence of razor sharp talons, much like those of a large owl, at the end of well-muscled legs.
Seychelles	Songoula	Ape-like creature	A monkey or ape like figure, possibly a small man in Seychellois folklore
Sierra Leone	Anansi	Shapeshifting trickster, frequently a spider	Along with his wife, Aso, Ananse can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider.
Somalia	Ayaanle	Benevolent spirits	Good spirits and acted as mediators between God and humans.
South Africa	Tokiloshe	Dwarf-like water sprite	Small water sprites, withered and gray, with gouged-out eyesand a hole in its skull.
South Sudan	Lau	River monster	Large, carnivorous, tentacled dinosaur-like creature
Sudan	Bouda	Were-hyena	In Ethiopia, it is traditionally believed that every blacksmith, whose trade is hereditary, is really a wizard or witch with the power to change into a hyena. These blacksmith werehyenas are believed to rob graves at midnight and are referred to as bouda[
Swaziland (Eswatini)	Nyanyabulembu	The Moss-Green Princess	a hideous beast with a moss green hide.
Tanzania	Popobawa	Gigantic bat with one eye	Popobawa is a shapeshifter and described as taking different forms, not just that of a bat as its name implies. It can take either human or animal form, and metamorphose from one into the other. It frequently is depicted with only one eye.
The Gambia	Kikiyaon	Owl-headed flying monster	It is described as resembling a large owl, especially its head. It has a huge beak and raking talons on its arms and feet. In many respects it is a mixture of bird and human. The Bambara people say it has a huge pair of feathered wings which grow from its back; the shoulder joint of which is tipped with a sharp spur, a deadly weapon if its talons fail. The most terrifying feature is the presence of razor sharp talons, much like those of a large owl, at the end of well-muscled legs.
Togo	Adze	Vampiric firefly	In the wild, the adze takes the form of a firefly,
Tunisia	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Uganda	Lukwata	Lake monster	It has been described as 20–30 feet long, with dark smooth skin and a rounded head, and known to attack fishermen and boats
Zambia	Kongamato	Large lizard with leathery bat wings	It is described as a reddish lizard with membranous wings and teeth in its beak. Its wingspan ranges from 4 to 100 feet across. When shown a picture of a pterosaur, natives said that it was a picture of a kongamato.
Zimbabwe	Nyaminyami	Snakelike river spirit	Variously described as having the body of a snake and the head of a fish, a whirlpool or a river dragon, the Nyami Nyami is seen as the god of Zambezi Valley and the river before the creation of the Kariba Dam. The Nyami Nyami is regularly depicted as a snake-like being or dragon-like creature with a snake's torso and the head of a fish.

Mythical Creatures & Cryptids of Asia

Country	Mythical Creature Name	Type of Cryptid	Description
Australia	Bunyip	Mysterious monster	Bunyips live in Australian billabongs and swamps, and stories of their appearance are highly varied. The most commonly described features include a dog-like face and clawed flippers. The bunyip is occasionally compared to a manatee or hippopotamus. In some of the older legends, they are described as attacking and devouring humans.Carl Lumholtz, a Norwegian explorer who travelled extensively in Australia, described the bunyip as “a mammal of considerable size…a monster with countless eyes and ears…He has sharp claws, and can run so fast that it is difficult to escape him.
Azerbaijan	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Bangladesh	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Bhutan	Yeti	Bigfoot-like creature	Bigfoot-like tall humanoid, covered in pale fur or hair
Brunei	Genali	Giant serpent	The creature that finally emerged from the river was huge, limbless and covered in scales. It was a snake, but one so overgrown they called it a dragon.
Cambodia	Chinthe	Lion-like creature	A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).
China	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Fiji	Dakuwaqa	Shark god, protector of the ocean	He was a shape-shifter and had the ability to morph into anything, even human beings. He was most ferocious in his natural state, a sleek yet powerful shark.
Georgia	Devi	Three-headed giants	These ogre-like creatures are covered in hair and have horns and several heads (from three up to a hundred).
Hong Kong	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
India	Shesha	Great snake that supports the world	A great snake that holds all the planets of the universe on its folds
Indonesia	Orang Pendek	Ape-like biped	A ground-dwelling, bipedal primate that is covered in short fur and stands between 80 and 150 cm (30 and 60 in) tall.
Japan	Wani	A sea dragon	Wani are sea monsters that live in deep bodies of water. They have long, serpentine bodies, fins, and can breathe both air and water. Wani are able to shapeshift into humans, and there are even tales of wani and humans falling in love.
Kiribati	Te Toa mai Matang	A giant	A giant who was very strong, and had a spear.
Laos	Phaya Naga	Dragon-like river serpent	Serpent-like creatures, believed by locals to live in the Mekong river or estuaries. Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths
Macau	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Malaysia	Abath	Unicorn-like creature	Described as female, with a single horn growing from its forehead, it is speculated that these were probably the result of a half-glimpsed Javan or Sumatran rhinoceros
Marshall Islands	mermaid	Part human, part fish sea creatures	An aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish.
Micronesia, Federated States of	Nei Tituaabine	Tree goddess	Is a red-haired maiden in Micronesian mythology, specifically in Kiribati. She fell in love with the giant haired-skinned chief, Auriaria, but they had no children. After her death, three trees grew from her grave: a coconut from her head, a pandanus from her heels and an almond from her navel.
Mongolia	Alma	Humanoid creature	Almases are typically described as human-like bipedal animals, between five and six and a half feet tall, their bodies covered with reddish-brown hair, with anthropomorphic facial features including a pronounced browridge, flat nose, and a weak chin.
Myanmar	Chinthe	LIon-like creature	A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).
Nauru	Areop-Enap	Spider-god of creation	An old spider.
Nepal	Yeti	Humanoid creature	Bigfoot-like tall humanoid, covered in pale fur or hair
New Zealand	Taniwha	Power water beings	At sea, a taniwha often appears as a whale or as quite a large shark;[4] compare the Māori name for the Great white shark: mangō-taniwha. In inland waters, they may still be of whale-like dimensions, but look more like a gecko or a tuatara, having a row of spines along the back.
North Korea	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Pakistan	Barmanou	Yeti-like creature	The Barmanou allegedly possesses both human and apelike characteristics and has a reputation for abducting women and attempting to mate with them. It is also reported to wear animal skins upon its back and head. The Barmanou appears in the folklore of the Northern Regions of Pakistan and depending on where the stories come from it tends to be either described as an ape or a wild man.
Palau	Areop-Enap	Spider-god of creation	An old spider.
Papua New Guinea	New Guinea Tiger	Mysterious cat	A lion-sized cat.
Philippines	Aswang	Shapeshifters	Aswang is an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil spirits in Filipino folklore, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and werebeasts (usually dogs, cats, pigs).
Samoa	Aitu	Ghosts
Singapore	Merlion	Aquatic creature	Mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish.
Solomon Islands	Adaro	Merfolk	An adaro is described as a man with gills behind his ears, tail fins for feet, a horn like a shark's dorsal fin, and a swordfish or sawfish-like spear growing out of his head.
South Korea	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.
Sri Lanka	Chinthe	Lion-like creature	A highly stylized leogryph (lion-like creature) commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and Myanmar architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).
Taiwan	mô-sîn-á	Small fairies or devils	Taiwan’s mô-sîn-á are usually believed to be small in stature. They are thought to be hobbit-like creatures—nimble and often appear like small children.
Thailand	Phaya Naga	Dragon-like river serpent	Serpent-like creatures, believed by locals to live in the Mekong river or estuaries. Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths
Timor Leste	Brother Crocodile	Revered crocodiles who created the island	An immense crocodile.
Tonga	Takuaka	Shark god	He was a shape-shifter and had the ability to morph into anything, even human beings. He was most ferocious in his natural state, a sleek yet powerful shark.
Tuvalu	te Pusi mo te Ali	The Eel and the Flounder	An eel and a flounder fish are said to be the creators of their islands.
Vanuatu	Abaia	Magical eel	A huge, magical eel
Vietnam	Dragon	Supernatural serpent	In stories, a Chinese (Asian) dragon can be composed of many different animal parts, but it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag.

Mythical Creatures & Cryptids of The Middle East

Country	Mythical Creature Name	Type of Cryptid	Description
Afghanistan	Al	Demon	They have clay noses and fiery eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone.
Bahrain	Bū Daryā	Giant merfolk creature	Bū Daryā was seen as a terrifying and colossal half-human half-amphibian who preyed on those out at sea.
Egypt	Griffin	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion	A beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion
Iran	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Iraq	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Israel	Leviathan	Sea monster	In the Old Testament, Leviathan appears in Psalms 74:14 as a multiheaded sea serpent that is killed by God and given as food to the Hebrews in the wilderness.
Jordan	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Kazakhstan	Tulpar	Pegasus	A winged horse similar to the pegasus
Kuwait	Tantal	Ghost that kidnaps children at night	A tall black man, of three meters in height, with disheveled hair whose feetseps were audibly heavy. He would roam around in the dead of night, holding a large staff or cane which he would use to strike his victims with.
Kyrgyzstan	Tulpar	Pegasus	A winged horse similar to the pegasus
Lebanon	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Oman	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Palestine	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Qatar	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Saudi Arabia	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Syria	Roc	Gigantic bird	Legendary birds big enough to carry off an elephant
Tajikistan	Al	Demon	They have clay noses and fiery eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone.
Turkey	Dragon	Immense mythical serpents	Also expressed as a snake or lizard, is the symbol of might and power.
Turkmenistan	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
United Arab Emirates	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.
Uzbekistan	Simurgh	Phoenix-like bird	The simurgh is depicted in Iranian art as a winged creature in the shape of a bird, gigantic enough to carry off an elephant or a whale. It appears as a peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion – sometimes, however, also with a human face.
Yemen	Jinn	Supernatural spirits and demons, sometimes Anglicized as genie	Jinn are beings of flame or air who are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects—stones, trees, ruins—underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire.

Mythical Creatures & Cryptids of South America

Country	Mythical Creature Name	Type of Cryptid	Description
Argentina	Nahuelito	Lake Monster	A sea serpent described similarly to a plesiosaur
Bolivia	Acalica	Weather-controlling fairies	said to control the weather, live in caves, and are very rarely seen. When they do appear they are said to take the form of small, wizened men.
Brazil	Curupira	A dwarf covered in bright orange hair	a creature with bright red/orange hair that resembles a man or a dwarf. Curupira has a very unique trait: his feet are turned backwards.
Chile	Basilisco Chilote	Serpentine monster	Serpentine monster with crest of a rooster
Colombia	Tunda	Shapeshifter	A shapeshifter with a visible flaw - it has a wooden leg that it cannot shapeshift.
Ecuador	Water Tiger	Four-legged, fanged water monster	cryptid river or lake monsters reported from parts of South America, principally the Guianas, almost always described as aquatic tusked animals. Cryptozoologists speculate they may be living sabre-toothed cats, forming a parallel with the African water lions,[3][4] or some form of giant otter.
Guyana	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature
Paraguay	Teju Jagua	Multi-headed dog-lizard	A huge lizard with seven dog heads and eyes that shoot fire.
Peru	Muki	Goblin-like monster that inhabits mines	Small, brawny creature with pointy ears, long white beards, carries mining lantern
Suriname	Asema	A vampire-like witch	Appears at night as a ball of blue light.
Uruguay	Luison	Werewolf	The name of Luison is a variation of Lobizón, a name used in Argentina and Uruguay to describe the werewolf or a similar creature, which is itself a variation of the Brazilian name for the werewolf, Lobisomem, more literally wolf-man.
Venezuela	Wako	Cave-digging, fanged monsters	The Wako are tsawekuri, animal spirits in the folklore of the Cuiva of Colombia and Venezuela. They look like pacas, with spots and long vicious fangs. Wako dig caves with many small exits and hiding-places, and live there in large numbers.

Mythical Creatures & Cryptids of North America

Country	Mythical Creature Name	Type of Cryptid	Description
Antigua and Barbuda	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature
Bahamas	Rolling Calf	A monstrous bull wrapped in chains	A huge ghost in the shape of a cow, fiery eyes and wrapped in a chain
Barbados	Duppy	An undead spirit	Ghostly spirits, somewhat similar to their former earthly forms
Belize	Tata Duende	Grandfather Demon,' a mischief maker	An old mischievious character who is very short, has backward feet, wears a tall pointy hat, and has both thumbs missing
Canada	Windigo	Powerful monsters with a desire to kil and eat people	Varies, but one version of the windigo has pointed or animal-like ears with antlers or horns sprouting on its head
Costa Rica	Cadejo	Canine spirits that appear to travelers at night	Large, shaggy dogs with burning eyes and goats hooves a white one (helpful) and a black one (dangerous)
Cuba	Madre de Aguas	A giant boa snake	A giant boa snake wide as a palm tree, with two horns on its head, that inhabits rivers and lakes
Dominica	El bacá	Evil creature that people conjure to get wealth and property	Among other forms, it can take the form of a large black dog, cat or bull.
Dominican Republic	Ciguapa	Hag-like creatures that inhabit the high mountains of the Domincan Republic	Theyi appear as human females, sometimes with blue skin, with long manes of glossy hair that cover their bodies, and backward-facing feet.
El Salvador	Cuyancúa	A half-pig, half-snake	A creature with the upper body of a pig and the hindquarters of a snake
Grenada	La Diablesse	Shape-shifting hag spirit	A hideously-faced hag, who hides her face with alarge brimmed hat and long dress.
Guatemala	Camazotz	A gigantic monster bat	Giant bats with long, protruding fangs, that stand upright like a person, their wings decorated with ornaments like human bones
Haiti	Loup Garou	Sorcerers with the power to transform into wolves	Similar to the classic werewolf legend, although they can transform intoi other kinds of animals as well.
Honduras	El Picudo	A beast-like creature that drinks the blood of animals	Creature with a dog's body and a pig's face
Jamaica	Rolling Calf	A monstrous bull wrapped in chains	A huge ghost in the shape of a cow, fiery eyes and wrapped in a chain
Mexico	Quetzalcoatl	Feathered Serpent	A giant magical serpent covered in green feathers. Many depictions incorrectly attribute wings to it.
Nicaragua	La Carretanagua	A ghostly caravan of ox carts	Those have ‘seen’ this mysterious entourage of oxen and lost souls say that it moves quickly and is unable to turn corners due to is cross shape, simply disappearing as it reaches the end of a road.
Panama	Cadejo	Canine spirits that appear to travelers at night	Large, shaggy dogs with burning eyes and goats hooves a white one (helpful) and a black one (dangerous)
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature
Saint Lucia	Soucouyant	Witch	An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Jumbee	A dark, shadowy malevolent entity	A whispy, fog-like shadowy creature
Trinidad and Tobago	Soucouyant	Witch	An old woman shapeshifter, who trips off her wrinkled skin and flies around in her true form, a fireball.
United States of America	Sasquatch	Bipedal, hairy humanoid that is said to live in deep forests	Hairy humanoid, extremely tall with large feet.

What are cryptids?

A cryptid is a creature or entity that is claimed to exist based on anecdotal evidence, folklore, or myth but has not been scientifically proven to exist.

The term is often associated with creatures that are part of cryptozoology, a pseudoscience that aims to study and search for such unknown animals.

Common Characteristics of Cryptids:

1. Anecdotal Evidence: Sightings, eyewitness reports, photographs, and videos are often the main evidence for the existence of cryptids.
2. Lack of Scientific Proof: Cryptids are not recognized by mainstream science because there is insufficient physical evidence or because purported evidence does not withstand scientific scrutiny.
3. Folklore and Mythology: Many cryptids are deeply rooted in local legends, myths, or cultural stories.

Examples of Cryptids:

• Bigfoot (Sasquatch): A large, ape-like creature said to inhabit forests, mainly in North America.
• Loch Ness Monster (Nessie): A large, aquatic creature believed to live in Scotland’s Loch Ness.
• Chupacabra: A creature from Latin American folklore said to attack livestock, especially goats, and drink their blood.
• Mothman: A winged, humanoid creature reported in West Virginia in the 1960s.

Also see: Cryptids By State

Have you ever seen a cryptid before? Please let me know in the comments below: