90 Fascinating & Creepy Mythical Humanoids

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Learn about human-like creatures from mythology and folklore
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Humanoid mythical creatures are legendary beings that are part human or have human-like features. These creatures exist in folklore and mythology all around the world. Some, like mermaids, are well-known, while others may be unfamiliar. We spoke to mythology, folklore, and paranormal experts to teach you all about popular humanoids from various myths and legends.

Popular Humanoid Mythological Creatures

An illustration showing various humanoid mythical creatures from around the world.

A humanoid mythical creature is any creature from folklore or mythology that possesses human-like traits. Some well-known humanoids include mermaids, werewolves, and vampires. Other popular creatures from around the world include the Japanese kitsune, the Australian bunyip, and the Filipino aswang.

1

Vampire

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  1. While there are vampire-like creatures in folklore all over the world, traditional vampires are closely associated with European legends. Vampires are undead human-like creatures who typically feast on the blood of the living. Depending on the story, they usually can’t go out in sunlight, instead sleeping in coffins during the day. Most vampires have sharp, pointed fangs.[1]
    • Urban legends expert Sydney Bermudez says there are multiple ways a person could become a vampire, including being bitten and drinking the blood of another vampire, having an improper burial, or dying under mysterious or violent circumstances.[2]

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Maria Souza is a comparative mythologist and the founder of Women & Mythology, based in Australia. She has over 7 years of experience and explores myths from both Eastern and Western traditions.

    Sydney Bermudez is an urban legend and Mexican folklore expert. She specializes in horror storytelling, Mexican folklore, creepypastas, and urban legends, and has over 400k followers on Instagram and TikTok.

    Brittney Crabb is a paranormal and horror content creator based in Toronto, Ontario. She has over 17 years of experience creating content and has over 580k followers on her YouTube channel @BrittneyCrabb.

    Dylan McElliott is a YouTuber and paranormal activity expert based in Auburndale, Florida. He produces viral videos exploring haunted sites and researching mysterious phenomena.

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2

Fairy

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  1. Fairies (also known as fae or the fair folk) are mythical creatures found in the folklore of various European cultures, including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, and French. The term includes many different magical spirits, from tiny winged sprites to powerful beings associated with courts and seasons. Fairies are often trickster characters who dislike iron and cannot lie.[3]
3

Kitsune

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  1. Bermudez says kitsune are a popular type of yokai in Japanese mythology.[4] Kitsune are fox spirits that can shapeshift into beautiful humans or fox-human hybrids, often with 9 tails. They are associated with the Shinto deity Inari and serve as divine messengers. Their power and wisdom increase with age.[5]
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4

Angel

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  1. Angels originate from Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). They’re divine messengers who often communicate with humans on behalf of God. They’re frequently depicted as humanoids with large, bird-like wings.[6]
5

Demon

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  1. Bermudez explains, “Demons appear in many belief systems and mythologies around the world, often representing chaos, temptation, illness, or spiritual punishment.”[7] Like angels, demons originate from Abrahamic religions. They are malevolent beings, associated with the devil in Christianity. Demons are often depicted as horned monsters with human-like bodies, but they have no set form.[8]
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6

Bigfoot

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  1. Bigfoot is a well-known cryptid spotted in forests all over North America. It is described as a large, hairy, ape-like creature that is taller than a human and has very large feet. Many people claim to have seen Bigfoot, though no one has found definitive proof it exists.[9]
7

Banshee

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  1. According to Irish folklore, the banshee is a female spirit who heralds the death of a family member, usually by screaming or wailing. Her appearance differs depending on the story; sometimes she’s a young woman, and other times she’s a crone. A person would only hear her when a family member died or was about to die.[10]
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8

Baba Yaga

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  1. In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is a witch who appears as an elderly woman. In some stories, she is an evil character who fries and eats children, while in others, she is a friendly crone who helps the hero. She lives in a hut with chicken legs.[11]
9

Changeling

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  1. In European folklore, a changeling is a human-like, fae creature. When a human couple has a baby, the fae may kidnap the baby and replace it with a changeling that looks identical to the baby. The parents may not know their baby has been replaced, but the changeling may be sickly and won’t grow as well as a human child, or it may display intelligence far beyond its years.[12]
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10

Jinn

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  1. Bermudez says, “In Islamic belief, jinn are supernatural beings made of smokeless fire.”[13] They can be good or evil and have the ability to interact with or even possess humans. They can shapeshift into various forms, including humans and animals.[14]
11

Centaur

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  1. Centaurs are creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, originating from Greek mythology. They’re known for being wild and lustful creatures with human intellect and wisdom.[15]
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12

Leprechaun

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  1. In Irish folklore, a leprechaun is a type of solitary fairy, typically depicted as a little bearded man wearing a green coat and hat. They’re known to be mischievous and are mostly associated with having a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.[16]
13

Homunculus

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  1. Homunculi were popularized in 16th-century alchemy and 19th-century fiction. They’re small, artificial human-like beings created through alchemy. They’re typically made from organic materials like bone and flesh and often serve as assistants, soldiers, or servants. They may be imbued with specific skills or traits from their creator.[17]
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14

Mermaid

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  1. Mermaids are aquatic creatures with the head and upper body of a human woman and the tail of a fish. They appear in folklore across the world, including that of Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. They’re sometimes malevolent beings associated with storms, shipwrecks, and drownings, though they can also be benevolent and bestow boons or fall in love with humans.[18]
    • The male equivalent of a mermaid is a merman.
15

Troll

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  1. In Norse mythology, trolls are large, grotesque humanoids who live in isolated areas, like mountains and caves. They’re often strong, dim-witted, and hostile toward humans, but in some stories, they’re smaller and mischievous. Trolls may turn to stone in sunlight.[19]
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16

Werewolf

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  1. Werewolves likely originated from medieval European folklore. They are humans who shapeshift into wolves of wolf-human hybrids, usually at night under the full moon. Often, werewolves do not remember their time as a wolf once they transform back into a human. In modern legends, people become werewolves when they’re scratched or bitten by another werewolf.[20]
17

Ogbanje

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  1. In Igbo mythology, an ogbanje is an evil spirit that deliberately plagues a family with misfortune. It is repeatedly born into the same family and dies young on purpose to make them grieve. Ogbanje may not be born into the same immediate family, but can be born into the extended family.[22]
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18

Minotaur

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  1. The Minotaur is a prominent monster from Greek mythology. It has the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man. The Minotaur lived in the center of the Labyrinth, and every 9 years, 14 young noble citizens were offered to it as sacrificial victims. It was eventually slain by the hero Theseus.[23]
19

Jiangshi

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  1. The jiangshi is also known as the Chinese hopping vampire. It is a reanimated corpse that moves by hopping or leaping and kills humans by absorbing their life force. During the day, it sleeps in a coffin or hides in dark places, like caves and forests.[24]
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20

Mothman

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  1. Mothman is a popular cryptid that originated in West Virginia. It is a large, humanoid creature with wings and glowing red eyes. According to paranormal and horror content creator Brittney Crabb, “He always shows himself before a tragedy.”[25] It is believed to have caused or warned of the collapse of the Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Some believe Mothman is a mutated creature from a secret lab in the Point Pleasant TNT area.[26]
21

Skin-walker

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  1. In Navajo culture, a skin-walker is a type of witch with the ability to shapeshift into animals. They may also possess living animals or people and walk around in their bodies. Stories often depict them using their powers for evil, and they are considered a source of fear and mystery in Navajo communities.[27]
    • Bermudez adds that you can tell when someone is a skin-walker just by looking at them: “There’s something off [about them]... They’re not the best at acting human, so they might slip.”[28] For example, their limbs may be slightly too long or too flexible.
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22

Yeti

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  1. The Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman, is an ape-like creature similar to Bigfoot. It is said to inhabit the Himalayan mountains and is covered in brown, gray, or white hair. Like Bigfoot, many people have reported seeing the Yeti, but there is no definitive proof it exists.[29]
23

Siren

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  1. Comparative mythologist Maria Souza says in Greek mythology, “Sirens are these half-bird, half-women creatures that could attract sailors, like in the Odyssey, to death.”[30] They use their hypnotic songs to lure sailors to death. In modern depictions, they often resemble mermaids.[31]
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24

Manticore

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  1. The manticore is a legendary creature from Persian mythology. It has the face of a human, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion. It eats its victims whole, using its 3 rows of teeth. The manticore also appears in Greek and medieval European texts.[32]
25

Yowie

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  1. The Yowie is typically described as a tall, hairy, ape-like creature with large feet, similar to the American Bigfoot. It reportedly lives in the Australian Outback, and descriptions of its behavior vary. Some accounts report that it is timid and reclusive, while others claim it is violent or aggressive.[33]
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26

Cyclops

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  1. In Greek mythology, a cyclops is a giant human with one large eye in the center of their forehead. They appear in many Greek myths, such as the Odyssey, and have different characteristics depending on the story. In some, they are brutish and cannibalistic, while in others they are skilled blacksmiths and craftsmen.[34]
27

Dwarf

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  1. Dwarves are short, humanoid creatures from Germanic folklore. They often live in mountains or stones and are skilled craftsmen. In many legends, dwarves are exclusively male, and they’re often depicted as fiercely loyal, strong, stubborn, and greedy.[35]
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28

Elf

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  1. In Germanic folklore, elves are humanoid beings with magical powers and supernatural beauty. In early myths, they were seen as powerful and sometimes dangerous nature spirits who were often linked to fertility, magic, and ancestors. They later became closely associated with fairies.[36]
29

Boogeyman

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  1. The boogeyman is a mythical, shapeshifting creature used to scare children into good behavior. Variations of the boogeyman appear in cultures all around the world. The boogeyman often lurks in shadows, under beds, or in closets. It has no single appearance and can shift into whatever a person fears most.[37]
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30

Ghost

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  1. A ghost is a lost soul or the spirit of a deceased person. Ghost mythology is found all over the world and varies depending on the culture. Often, though, a deceased person becomes a ghost because they’re bound to the world of the living due to unfinished business, regrets, or strong emotions like anger. Paranormal activity expert Dylan McElliott says trauma, especially dying in a traumatic way, plays a key role in someone becoming a ghost.[38]
31

Hat Man

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  1. The Hat Man is a modern urban legend. He appears as the shadow of a man wearing a fedora or another brimmed hat.[39] He is commonly associated with sleep paralysis or taking too much Benadryl. He’s typically described as harmless (and has even become a meme), though Crabb adds that many people can feel him watching them as they sleep.[40]
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32

Mummy

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  1. While mummification is real, many movies and books depict mummies as undead monsters. A mummy is a dead person whose organs have been preserved so the body does not decay further. In fiction, mummies are often brought back to life due to a spell or curse. They may try to protect their tombs from graverobbers.[41]
33

Yara-ma-yha-who

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  1. The Yara-ma-yha-who is a legendary vampiric monster from Southeastern Australian Aboriginal mythology. It appears as a small, red, frog-like man with a large head and toothless mouth. It has suckers on the ends of its hands and feet. The Yara-ma-yha-who lives in fig trees, and when a victim passes underneath, it drops down and uses its suckers to drain the victim of blood. In other versions of the myth, it swallows its victims whole.[42]
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34

Golem

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  1. In Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated being that is created entirely from inanimate matter, like clay or mud. They often serve as helpers, guardians, and rescuers for the Jewish community, often protecting people against persecution.[43]
35

Ogre

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  1. Ogres are large, hideous, humanoid monsters known for eating humans (especially children). They often have disproportionately large heads, lots of hair, and unusually colored skin. In modern portrayals, they’re often depicted as being unintelligent.[44]
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36

Selkie

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  1. In Celtic folklore, selkies are mythological creatures that can shapeshift between seal and human form by removing or putting on their seal skin. They can be friendly and helpful to humans, or they can be dangerous and vengeful. They’re often depicted as attractive and can be tricked into marrying humans if the human steals and hides their seal skin.[45]
37

Aswang

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  1. Aswang is a term for various evil, shape-shifting creatures from Filipino folklore, including vampires, ghouls, and witches. The aswang appear in a variety of myths, stories, and films, and they typically feast on humans and lurk around cemeteries and woods at night.[46]
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38

Ala

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  1. In Balkan folklore, an ala is a female demon that brings bad weather to farms. The ala’s main purpose is to lead thunderclouds toward fields, vineyards, and orchards to destroy the crops. They also eat children and attempt to devour the sun and moon, causing eclipses.[47]
39

Boggart

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  1. Boggarts are supernatural creatures from English folklore. The term is a generic name for various spirits, including household faeries, hobgoblins, and even poltergeist. Typically, boggarts are depicted as malevolent and will follow a family wherever they flee. If given a name, it would become uncontrollable and destructive.[48]
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40

Brownie

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  1. A brownie is a Scottish household spirit that performs chores at night while the owners of the house are sleeping. The humans must leave an offering, like a bowl of milk or cream, for the brownie, because brownies are easily insulted and will leave forever if they feel they have been taken advantage of. They’re also mischievous and are known to punish or pull pranks on lazy servants. They may turn into boggarts if angered.[49]
41

Harpy

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  1. In Greek and Roman mythology, harpies are half-human, half-bird creatures, often believed to be the personification of storm winds. They’re typically depicted as birds with the heads of women, and many stories describe them as being extremely ugly. They often carry people away to Tartarus, torturing them along the way.[50]
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42

Anguane

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  1. In Northern Italian folklore, the anguane are cloven-footed water nymphs with beautiful faces and long breasts. They reside in or near lakes and are said to seduce male wayfarers and help infertile women become pregnant.[51]
43

Dhampir

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  1. In Balkan folklore, a dhampir is a half-human, half-vampire creature. They are created from a union between a male vampire and a female human. In Albanian legends, dhampirs have untamed black hair and are very cunning. They are not attracted to blood and can eat food like normal humans.[52]
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44

Boo hag

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  1. The boo hag originated from the folklore of the Gullah Geechee people in Georgia and is widely known in African-American folktales. Boo hags are similar to vampires, but gain sustenance from a person’s breath instead of their blood. They’re believed to be shapeshifting witches who sold their souls to the devil.[53]
45

Dryad

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  1. In Greek mythology, a dryad is a tree nymph. They often appear as beautiful women whose lives end if their tree dies. They may have hair like leaves, or features made of wood. Dryads appear in several Greek myths.[54]
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46

Water Babies

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  1. In the American Southwest, water babies are evil spirits who reside near springs or ponds. They take the form of crying babies to lure people in. When a person picks a water baby up, it becomes so heavy that it crushes the person to death.[55]
47

El Cucuy

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  1. In South America (as well as Spain and Portugal), El Cucuy is a version of the boogeyman, used to scare children into being good. El Cucuy is a shapeshifter, but is often described as a shadowy, hairy monster with glowing red eyes and sharp teeth and claws. It is known to kidnap and eat children.[56]
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48

Gargoyle

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  1. Gargoyles are grotesque creatures carved from stone and used to scare away demons. They’re most commonly associated with French cathedrals. They often have humanoid bodies with monstrous or animalistic features, like horns, wings, and claws. In fiction, gargoyles are often animated and come to life to defend their homes or do the bidding of others.[57]
49

Faun/Satyr

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  1. In Greek and Roman mythology, fauns (or satyrs) are creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a goat, though they also typically have goat horns on their head. Roman fauns were often portrayed as foolish, while Greek satyrs were sly and woman-loving.[58]
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50

Goblin

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  1. Goblins are grotesque, often malevolent, creatures from European folklore. They’re typically small in stature, have a humanoid body, and are furry or leathery. They can be anywhere from mischievous to demonic in nature, and engage in acts ranging from pranks to murder.[59]
51

Bunyip

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  1. Originating in Aboriginal mythology, the bunyip is a creature believed to lurk in the swamps, billabongs, riverbeds, and waterholes of southeastern Australia. Its appearance varies widely, and it has been described as dog-like, reptilian, or vaguely humanoid. Some legends portray them as bloodthirsty predators of humans.[60]
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52

Wendigo

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  1. According to Bermudez, “A wendigo is a mythological creature from Algonquian folklore, often described as a malevolent, cannibalistic spirit associated with greed, hunger, and winter.”[61] A wendigo can possess a person and cause them to feel insatiable hunger and the desire to cannibalize other people. In some legends, it is described as a giant humanoid with a heart of ice. Its approach is signaled by a foul stench or a sudden, unseasonable chill.
53

Zombie

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  1. Zombies are pretty well-known these days, but they actually originated in Haitian folklore. A zombie is an undead human, traditionally reanimated through magical practices to be a slave to the person who brought them back to “life.” In modern depictions, people may become zombies through viruses or diseases. Zombies often feast on the flesh or the brains of the living.[62]
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54

Nymph

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  1. A nymph is a female nature deity in ancient Greek mythology. Nymphs are typically viewed as personifications of nature and are tied to a specific place, landform, or tree. They’re often depicted as maidens who have shapeshifting and healing abilities.[63]
55

Lamia

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  1. In Greek mythology, Lamia was originally a child-eating monster, and in later tradition, was viewed as a type of night-haunting spirit, or daimon. In early myths, Lamia was a beautiful queen who had an affair with Zeus. After Zeus’s wife, Hera, stole Lamia’s children as punishment, Lamia went insane and began hunting and devouring children. She was then transformed into a horrific creature.[64]
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56

Dokkaebi

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  1. In Korean folklore and fairy tales, dokkaebi are nature deities or spirits that have extraordinary abilities. Known as “Korean ogres,” they often play tricks on humans, but can also help them. They can take on many different forms and are described as having a thousand faces.[65]
57

Manananggal

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  1. The manananggal is a self-segmenting humanoid creature from the Philippines. It is able to separate its upper torso from the lower part of its body, and it has fangs and wings, giving it a vampiric appearance. It commonly preys on sleeping, pregnant women, newlyweds, and newborn children.[66]
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58

Nāga

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  1. In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, the nāga are a divine race of half-human, half-serpent creatures that reside in the netherworld. They are also known as dragons or water spirits. According to legend, they are the children of the sage Kashyapa and Kadru. The nāga act as guardians of water, treasure, and fertility.​​[67]
59

Trauco

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  1. According to Chilean lore, the Trauco is a dwarf or goblin-like creature that inhabits the woods of the Chiloé islands. It has an ugly face and legs without feet, but it also has a powerful magnetism that attracts women. When a single woman is pregnant and no one claims to be the father, they assume the Trauco is the father. The Trauco’s wife is said to be Fiura.[68]
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60

Fiura

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  1. In Chilean mythology, Fiura is an evil creature who appears as a small, nasty woman with large breasts. She uses her voice and magical breath to attract men, and when she is really angry, she can curse anyone or anything from a great distance. In some myths, she is the wife of the Trauco, a mythical entity that inhabits the woods of the Chiloé islands.[69]
61

Orc

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  1. Orcs are humanoid monsters often found in works of modern fantasy, most notably J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. They’re frequently depicted as brutish, aggressive, and ugly, and they often have green skin and large tusks.[70]
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62

Slenderman

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  1. Slenderman began as an internet Creepypasta but has since taken on a life of his own, as many people have reported seeing him. He is depicted as a thin, unnaturally tall humanoid with a featureless white face who wears a black suit. Stories report him stalking, abducting, and traumatizing people, particularly children. The legend has been adapted into video games and a movie.[71]
63

Hitotsume-kozou

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  1. The hitotsume-kozou is a Japanese yōkai (spirit) that appears as a bald-headed child with one eye in the center of its forehead, like a cyclops. They are fairly harmless, though they often appear suddenly and surprise people.[72]
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64

Kakamora

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  1. In Solomon Island mythology, the Kakamora are described as small, hairy humanoids who live in forests and sometimes stab people with their claws. According to legend, they are afraid of the color white. They’re believed to dwell in caves and steal fire and women from Solomon Islanders.[73]
65

Black-eyed children

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  1. These modern paranormal creatures resemble human children with pale skin and eyes that are completely black. People report seeing them begging, hitchhiking, or lingering on the doorsteps of homes. They could be ghosts, demons, aliens, or other inhuman creatures, and they impersonate human children to manipulate people.[74]
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66

Äbädä

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  1. In Turkic mythology, the äbädä is a protective forest spirit. It can take human form but is usually portrayed as having blue skin, green hair, and horns. It may also resemble an old woman or a peasant with glowing eyes and backward feet. The äbädä protects the birds, trees, and animals in a forest.[75]
67

Adlet

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  1. In Inuit folklore, the Adlet are believed to be a humanoid dog-legged tribe in Greenland and the Labrador and Hudson Bay coasts. The lower part of their body is that of a dog, while their upper body is human. They’re often portrayed in conflict with humans, and in some stories, they’re cannibals.[76]
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68

Zmeu

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  1. In Romanian folklore, the zmeu is a human-dragon hybrid. It can fly and breathe fire like a dragon, but possesses arms and legs and is able to use weapons and ride horses like a human. In stories, the zmeu often kidnaps beautiful young women and is almost always defeated by a prince or knight.[77]
69

Anito

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  1. In Indigenous Philippine folk religions, the anito refer to ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities. The term may have additional meanings and associations depending on the Filipino ethnic group. The anito are often represented by humanoid figures carved from wood, stone, or ivory.[78]
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70

Baak

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  1. The baak is a shapeshifting creature from Assamese folklore (Assam is a state in northeastern India). It lives near bodies of water and is typically malevolent in nature, often causing trouble for fishermen. Baaks are usually tall, thin humanoids with long legs and arms. They usually have little to no hair.[79]
71

Kinari

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  1. In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, the kinari are beautiful, slender creatures with bird wings and a humanoid body. They are believed to come from the Himalayas and watch over the well-being of humans in times of trouble. They are strongly associated with music and love.[80]
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72

Vanara

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  1. In Hinduism, the vanara are a race of forest-dwelling, ape-like people. In the epic of Ramayana, the vanara help Rama defeat Ravana. According to the Ramayana, the vanara were shapeshifters who had beards, tails, and razor-sharp claws. Their skin and skeleton were reinforced with an indestructible Vajra, which no earthly element could penetrate.[81]
73

Tall man

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  1. The tall man is a malevolent being who emerges from the cracks in the rocks or the shadows of the rainforest in the North East tropics of Queensland, Australia. He appears in ancestral cave paintings across Australia and is depicted as a long-limbed figure. He is a nightmare creature that Aboriginal people say should be avoided at all costs.
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74

Jengu

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  1. A jengu is a water spirit from various West and Central African cultures, including the Duala, Bakweri, Subu, and Oroko peoples. They are mermaid-like creatures that live in rivers and the sea, and they bring good fortune to those who worship them. They can even cure diseases.[82]
75

Chindi

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  1. In Navajo mythology, a chindi is the dark side of the soul, which separates from a person after death and remains behind as a dark spirit. It consists of everything negative about the person’s life, including their pain, fear, anger, and disappointment. According to legend, contact with a chindi can cause illness and death.[83]
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76

Patupaiarehe

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  1. In Māori mythology, the Patupaiarehe are supernatural beings with pale skin and blonde or red hair. They can draw mist to themselves and tend to be nocturnal or active on misty or foggy days. Direct sunlight can be fatal to them. The Patupaiarehe can be hostile to humans, especially those who intrude on their lands.[84]
77

Baykok

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  1. In Ojibwe culture, the baykok is a malevolent spirit depicted as a skeletal monster. It is believed to be the ghost of a human cursed for horrific acts in life. It only preys upon warriors, killing them with invisible arrows or beating them to death with a club.[85]
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78

Werehyena

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  1. Similar to the werewolf, a werehyena is a creature that shapeshifts from a hyena into a human. Unlike werewolves, which are originally human, most werehyenas are originally hyenas. These creatures are featured in numerous African cultures, and some peoples believe they can exist as spirits of the dead or evil spirits.[86]
79

Buffalo People

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  1. In Souan mythology, the Buffalo People are a race of shapeshifting witches who inhabited earth before humans. The Buffalo People married the gods to create the first humans. Humans and the Buffalo People were initially rivals, but they later made peace, gifted the earth to the humans, and became the actual buffalo.
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80

Ciguapa

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  1. In Dominican Republic folklore, the Ciguapa is a mythical creature described as having a human female form with brown or dark blue skin, backward-facing feet, and long hair that covers its body. It lives in the high mountains, is nocturnal, and is sometimes believed to bring death. The only way to capture the Ciguapa is by tracking her at night during a full moon with a black and white polydactylic cinqueño dog.[87]
81

Menehune

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  1. In Hawaiian mythology, the Menehune are a race of dwarves believed to reside in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands. They’re described as incredible craftspeople who built temples, fishponds, roads, canoes, and houses, and are said to have lived in Hawaii before settlers arrived from Polynesia.[88]
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82

Nawao

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  1. The Nawao are a legendary people from Hawaiian mythology. They’re described as a wild, large-sized hunting people who are believed to have descended from Lua-nu’u. Some stories suggest they lived in Hawaii before the Menehune, who may have driven them out or destroyed them.[89]
83

Encantado

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  1. In South American folklore, encantados are Amazon river dolphins who sometimes take human form at night. When in human form, they wear hats to hide their blowholes, which do not disappear when they shapeshift. They possess other magical abilities, such as controlling storms, hypnotizing humans to do their will, and transforming humans into encantados.[90]
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84

Maero

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  1. In Māori tradition, the Maero are a supernatural people from New Zealand. They’re described as giants or wild men of the woods and are believed to inhabit mountains and forests. They’re malevolent and often violent beings who carry stone clubs as weapons, and they’re depicted as being covered in dark body hair and having long, bony fingers with sharp nails. They’re said to kill and eat humans and other animals.[91]
85

Kalku

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  1. According to the Mapuche mythology of Chile and Argentina, a kalku is a sorcerer or witch who works with black magic, negative powers, and wicked spirits known as wekufe. They’re closely associated with the island of Chiloé.
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86

Junjudee

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  1. The junjudee are small, brown, hairy men said to roam the bush in South East Queensland, Australia. They’re sometimes described as a smaller version of Bigfoot. Junjudee are believed to live in groups and are typically harmless, though they can be aggressive when provoked.[92]
87

Yacuruna

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  1. The Yacuruna are a mythical water people who live in beautiful underwater cities, often at the mouths of rivers in the Amazon basin. They’re described as being hairy with a backward-facing head and deformed feet, and illustrations often depict them alongside a serpent or riding a crocodile. Some believe they can transform into Amazon river dolphins.[93]
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88

Mumari

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  1. The mumari is a hairy creature that lives in the bush in Australia. It is believed to be an evil spirit that follows people home at night, trying to catch them. According to lore, it’s best to leave the bush before sunset to avoid them.
89

Mami Wata

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  1. Mami Wata is a mermaid-like water spirit or goddess from the folklore of Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. She is usually depicted as a light-skinned woman with long, light-colored hair, and she is believed to live in a mansion under the water.[94]
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90

Little People

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  1. The Little People consist of various fairy/elf-like beings across North America. Some are just a couple of inches tall and look like humans, some are a few feet tall and look ugly or hairy, and others take the form of human children. They may be mischievous, evil, or benevolent, depending on the type.[95]

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About This Article

Sydney Bermudez
Co-authored by:
Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert
This article was co-authored by Sydney Bermudez and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Sydney Bermudez is a horror content creator and Mexican folklore and urban legends expert. Sydney is a storyteller, who crafts engaging narratives that explore paranormal cases, internet mysteries, and psychological horror. She shares content on TikTok and Instagram to over 400k followers. Sydney specializes in horror storytelling, Mexican folklore, creepy pastas and urban legends, and is interested in how horror intersects with pop culture, social media trends, and modern myth-making. Her videos have received over 12 million likes on TikTok, with some videos reaching over 10 million views.
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Updated: January 21, 2026
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