[Top Section] Boneless; Region: Longdendale, Peak District, England [Middle Section] A black slug, its head is facing straight up and shaped like that of a whale's. Accompanied by descriptive text. A mysterious creature witnessed by one John Davies, a railwayman, in the 1950s. He had been riding his motorbike home, but was suddenly compelled to come to a stop. After a short bit of time, he spotted it in the moonlight crossing the road ahead of him. It was emanating a scraping as it moved. It appeared like a large black slug with the head of a whale. It had something resembling eyes, its black pupils wildly swirling around the white sclera. Davies learned a friend also witnessed the creature. Both concluded it was evil, having fled after fear and panic gripped them. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

The seemingly sinister Boneless, a sluggish beast spotted over in Longdendale in the Peak District. Little is known about it outside of Davies' description, though perhaps that's for the best.

[Top Section] Tonkaraton; Region: Japan [Middle Section] A guaze-wrapped humanoid grin atop a bicycle, his left eye and his mouth visible and a katana in his right hand. Accompanied by descriptive text. A late evening bike-riding yokai, wrapped in gauze with a katana sheathed on his back. Sings "Ton, Ton, Tonkara, Ton." but stops when encountering a person, approaching them and asking them to say "Tonkaraton". Say it and he will leave. Refuse and he will cut you down, say it before he asks and he will cut you down. Those cut down will manifest gauze wrapping, becoming a Tonkaraton. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Dandadan, Ch. 215 - 219 (2025), Gakkou no Kowai Uwada: Hanako-san ga Kita, E10 (1994)

A shocking sight to come upon when walking near the end of the day, one only has to stay calm and remember to speak only when asked. Alternatively, some say gauze wrapped around the left hand will cause Tonkaraton to believe you are his friend and carry on.

[Top Section] Gnome of Girona; Alternate Names: Girona Gnome, Girona Gremlin, Lepugnomus gerundensis; Region: Near Girona, Spain [Middle Section] A malformed creature, its body shape vaguely resembles a rabbit or hare. The blueish creature appears hairless, with reddish eyes, a protrusion on its forehead, and black spots around its dorsal area. Accompanied by descriptive text. A hoax of a creature supposedly found by a group of hikers in the area around Girona and Olot. It was a height of only 12 cm (4.72 in.). Supposedly discovered making strange noises likened to an old man laughing. Died after being captured and refusing to eat anything for 24 hours. The camper story was eventually discovered to be false, as the creature was instead discovered by one Manuel Tello of Girona. Ended up preserved in a jar of formalin, it is believed to be a malformed fetus of some animal. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A diminutive, blue-hued creature, supposedly resembling a gnome or gremlin enough to earn its current names.

[Top Section] Hantu Daguk; Region: Malaysia [Middle Section] The entire canvas is hazy and covered in a dark grey smoke/mist. The hints of a face are visible. Accompanied by descriptive text. Hantu Daguk form from the spirit of a murdered man, manifesting as a dark mist or cloud. Seem to manifest and linger near roadways, reducing visibility to dangerous levels. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A misty hantu, formed from the lingering spirit of a murder victim. Unfortunately, their continued incarnation is liable to cause vehicular accidents due to their cloud-like forms making it hard for drivers to see.

[Top Section] Huggin Molly; Region: Abbeville, Alabama, U.S.A. [Middle Section] A towering woman dressed in all black, from her dress to her wide-brimmed hat. Her face is obscured. Accompanied by descriptive text. A night-wandering phantom-like woman. Her presence is meant to encourage children to stay home at night. Broad and tall, Huggin Molly is around 7 ft (2.13 m) tall and wide as a door or a bale of cotton. Doesn't hurt her victims, she simply envelops them in a tight hug before letting out an incredibly loud scream in their ear. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: South of Midnight (2025)

A towering being, Huggin Molly may not harm you, but after a terrifyingly tight hug and piercing wail you'll wish you'd been inside that night.

There are various stories that attempt to explain the origin of Huggin Molly, from spirit to witch to something more mundane.

[Top Section] Belarussian Shore Muddler; Alternate Names: Vitrysk Strandmuddlare, Lirpa lirpa; Region: Swedish Hoax [Middle Section] A small beast with the head and front torso of a piglet, the tail of a squirrel, and the legs of some small waterfowl. Accompanied by descriptive text. After its initial showing in 1963, this taxidermied specimen was displayed yearly on April 1st within Sweden's National History Museum at Göteborg. Not much about it is defined other than its scientific name, however some can likely be hypothesized from its common name and physical features. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A taxidermy specimen of unknown, presumably Swedish, invention. The Belarussian Shore Muddler appears to be a combination of squirrel, waterbird, and a piglet. A strange creature, displayed with all the whimsy of April Fool's Day.

[Top Section] Spaghetti-Tree; Region: British hoax placed in parts of Europe [Middle Section] A tree thick with leaves, strands of spaghetti from various branches. Accompanied by descriptive text. In 1957, Panorama reported on the upcoming bumper crop of spaghetti within Switzerland. This predicted bounty was due to a short winter and lack of the bothersome spaghetti weevil. A 2 minute April Fools' Day joke dreamt up by Charles de Jaeger, narrated by Richard Dimbleby. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

In Switzerland or on plantations in parts of Italy such as the Po Valley, the spaghetti-tree hoax struck Britain in a shocking display of flat-out humour by the famously reliable BBC.

The report provided footage of an Italian family harvesting, sun drying, and serving homegrown spaghetti.

[Top Section] Kyōkotsu; Region: Japan [Middle Section] A well's cover sits ajar. From the gap, the trail of ragged cloth leads up to the humanoid yokai. Its bony skull, hands, and parts of its torso are all that peek out from its tattered clothing. Thick, flowing pale hair flows atop its head. Accompanied by descriptive text. "Crazy bones," kyōkotsu rise from wells, shocking nearby witnesses or anyone simply trying to get a bucket of water. Their form seems to consist of bleached-white bones, their hair, and ragged clothes. Formed from the bones of a corpse that has fallen in a well, left without a proper burial. Manifest with a great grudge as a result. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: GeGeGe no Kitarō Franchise (2007 - Present), Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, C63 (2009 - 2012)

A yokai described in Toriyama Sekien's Gazu Hyakki Shūi. A grudge-carrying set of bones disturbed from its place of unrest.

[Top Section] Pating na Pakpakan; Alternate Name: Triburon; Region: Ancient Ibalong/Bicol, Philippines [Middle Section] A mostly ventral view of a shark, its jaws are open revealing rows of teeth. Spreading out from its sides are a pair of large, wing-like fins. Accompanied by descriptive text. Winged, seemingly flight or breaching glide capable, sharks mentioned in the Bicol epic: the Ibalon. Suppressed by the second hero of the Ibalon, Handyong, and his men. These sharks have incredibly tough skin and saw-like teeth capable of destroying stone. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

Among the many beasts vanquished by Handyong and his men, the pating na pakpakan were fought until every last shark was defeated.

[Top Section] Beithir; Alternate Names: Beithir-nimh; Region: Scotland [Middle Section] A large, teal serpent with a row of jagged teeth, dark horns, and a sharp-tipped tail. Accompanied by descriptive text. A serpentine fuath that dwells in caverns and corries, described among serpents as both the largest and the deadliest. Bears a horrible venomous sting. If struck by this fuath's sting it is not just a race against time, but a literal race against the creature to the nearest body of water, otherwise death is guaranteed. If a normal snake is slain, its head must be smashed and separated from its body by a good distance, lest it renew itself and become a beithir. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Mythic Mayhem (2024); Scale the Depths (Gamejam Version 2024/Full Version Planned 2026)

Sometimes considered a Scottish dragon, it seems the beithir is a horrible serpent that could be born from any snake whose corpse is improperly disposed of.

[Top Section] Shovel-Face Oscar; Alternate Name: Caputpala borgesia; Region: The North Woods, North America [Middle Section] A quadruped whose body is almost entirely dominated by its shovel-shaped face and upper jaw. It has two horn-like protrusions above its eyes, besides its round ears. Accompanied by descriptive text. A particularly peculiar critter, shovel-faced Oscars seem to have a close relationship with bass. These creatures go about sandy lakebeds, excavating practically perfect spawn beds for bass to leave their eggs. Supposedly the name "Oscar" comes from the first non-native fisherman to see one, Oscar Wicklem. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

Critters seemingly tailor-built for shoveling. These quadrupedal things apparently spend the majority of their activities underwater, from feeding to sleeping.

[Top Section] Giant of Voronezh; Alternate Name: Voronezh Alien; Region: Voronezh, Russia [Middle Section] There are two figures. On our left is a tall humanoid with bulky bronze boots, a silvery bodysuit with a belt with a pattern that vaguely resembles the pattern on a basketball and a bronze disc on its chest. Its head is covered in a dark dome, however a set of three glowing red "eyes" peer out from within. In its right hand it wields a cylindrical mechanism. To our right is a cuboid machine with thin, peg-like legs, humanoid arms, and an assortment of lights, buttons, and a dial. Accompanied bye descriptive text. A 1989 extraterrestrial encounter that stood 3 meters (9 feet) tall. Alighted upon a group of children playing football at a park. Its gaze temporarily paralyzed one child, while its device erased another until it left. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Uchuu Daisakusen Chocovader [Unmo] (2002)

Supposedly two of these towering figures struck fear in the hearts of several children and one adult. They were accompanied by a machine-like being half their height that one apparently fiddled with to some end.

[Top Section] Pichen Xi; Alternate Names: Quechen Xi, Jihai Xi, Haiji Xi; Region: Seas around China [Middle Section] A blue-hued rhinoceros with various fins across its back and legs, and a moderately large tail. Accompanied by descriptive text. A sea beast resembling a rhinoceros. Its horns are capable of repelling dust, and could be fashioned into hairpins or combs to keep dust off the hair. The horn can also be burned to dispel dust in the area. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A dust-repelling sea beast. Interestingly, in the Journey to the West there are a trio of rhinoceros yaoguai known as the King of Cold Protection, the King of Heat Protection, and the King of Dust Protection.

[Top Section] Kami wo Kure; Region: Japan [Middle Section] A public toilet with both seats up, a large, pale green arm stretches out, prepared to grasp what's in front of it. Accompanied by descriptive text. A public restroom-based urban legend. A voice from a closed stall calls out "Kami wo kure..."; thinking the voice wants kami (paper), someone may toss them some, however... The voice continues to repeat its request as the passerby tries supplying more toilet paper. If one should check by knocking they will be met by silence, and the door will be found to be open. The stall is empty. The voice reveals that it is asking for kami (hair), not kami (paper), and an arm reaches out to drag in the victim by the hair. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: Megami Tensei Franchise (2000); Dandadan, Chapter 225 (2026)

A voice calls out; it seems a random individual in distress, one can easily assume their stall has no toilet paper. In order to help one may take some toilet paper and toss it to the unfortunate person, however...

[Top Section] Pocong Plastik; Region: Jakarta, Indonesia [Middle Section] A humanoid figure wrapped in a funeral shroud with an additional plastic wrap around that. Blood stains the shroud, originating from around the waist and starting pooling around the legs. Accompanied by descriptive text. A lesser known Indonesian urban legend. The pocong plastik is a specific pocong said to haunt the city of Jakarta. The story goes that a pregnant woman was found having been murdered by her boyfriend. During her autopsy, despite the wounds being sewn shut, her corpse would not cease bleeding, prompting the hospital to add an additional plastic wrap after the burial shroud, or simply the plastic wrap alone. It seems she seeks freedom from her plastic binds. [Bottom Section] Some depictions in popular culture: N/A

A pocong further sealed in plastic because of the ceaseless bloodflow, however this restriction prevents her from properly moving on.

[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.