What strange creatures have you found in mythology, legends, or depicted historically?

Representing_Tromba

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I just want to see what weird and strange creatures you've come across when looking for inspiration. What qualifies as weird or strange? Anything that is odd and not usually represented in modern stories or has interesting abilities/features. Where did they originate and why aren't they popular today? Are there any stories that depict these beings?

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CharlesEBrown

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Wish I'd kept all my notes. There was a monster in New Hampshire (per folklore) that likely inspired H. P. Lovecraft (he visited the area after the first sitings leaked out, spent a few weeks there, and then wrote The Dunwich Horror a few months later) - it sounded a lot like a classic gryphon, except it could apparently turn invisible. too, and made a lot of noise when it flew. Sightings began around 1900 and the last reported sighting was in the 50s IIRC.
There was also an alleged alien stranded in southern Massachusetts in 70s - it had eyes that seemed to double as flashlights and apparently some kind of telekinetic ability and was seen almost regularly for about two months, then never again.
And then there's all the wonky stuff in Fillipino lore - they have some of the absolutely strangest monsters ever. Aswang. Penanagallen. Etc.
And there's the "Monster Belt" that includes Loch Ness, Lake Champlain and about six others (with a "cousin" outside of the "belt" in Pennsylvania). The creatures are all remarkably similar, and have sightings going back decades (only about 2/3 of which have been since dubunked).
 

SPS4

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Tapirs are pretty silly animals just in general and have been known to be represented as dream eaters in East Asian cultures.

Haven't seen much representation. Probably on account of being so goofy.

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The squonk is a mythical creature that is reputed to live in the hemlock forests of northern Pennsylvania in the United States.

Get in the van, we're going to Squonkapalooza.
 
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MasterY001

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Species 8472. In short, xenophibic tripods from another dimension who can work together to make a Death Star laser.
 

Supperset

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Dhokarahawa, they are basically my hometown version of goblin. I was traumatized by it for quite some time. Since an elder in my family said this? took my Best Friend because he was naughty, while in actuality he had cancer and went for treatment.
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Ai-chan

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Since everyone know about Japanese creatures by now, Ai-chan will talk about the less known creatures in Malaysia.

Hantu Tetek/Kopek
Big tits ghost who kidnap young boys, then returns them. It's sometimes consensual. They also slap people's faces with their huge titties.

Hantu Apu
Very friendly ghost who likes to go to parties masquerading as the carpet.

Hantu Jamuan
Roughly translated into Party Ghost. Unlike the friendly Hantu Apu, Hantu Jamuan would cause havoc if they're not invited to the party.

Hantu Langut
Little-known dogheaded creature. Originally a human hunter, one day he cut a leech and saw that it reconnected. So he thought if he had leech blood, his body parts would reconnect too. He asked his son to cut off his head and reattach it with leech blood. But the son messed up and instead of cutting off the father's head, he smashed his father's head. Panicked, he cut off his dog's head and attached the dog's head to his father's neck using the leech blood. His father revived but ashamed with how he looks, he ran into the forest. Supposedly, the father still lives to this day in the forests of Pahang.

Penunggu Hutan
Translated into Forest Guardian. They have the supernatural ability to confuse, disorient and create illusions. Commonly appearing as a majestic stag or huge boar, they act as the elder grandpa teaching hunters who have eyes but can't see Mount Tai some manners. It is unlikely for most people to see them unless they are boastful in the forest or hunt way more than they should. Usually you'd just get lost for a day or two until the guardian considers that you have learned your lesson.
 

zephyrtrillian

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Wish I'd kept all my notes. There was a monster in New Hampshire (per folklore) that likely inspired H. P. Lovecraft (he visited the area after the first sitings leaked out, spent a few weeks there, and then wrote The Dunwich Horror a few months later) - it sounded a lot like a classic gryphon, except it could apparently turn invisible. too, and made a lot of noise when it flew. Sightings began around 1900 and the last reported sighting was in the 50s IIRC.
There was also an alleged alien stranded in southern Massachusetts in 70s - it had eyes that seemed to double as flashlights and apparently some kind of telekinetic ability and was seen almost regularly for about two months, then never again.
And then there's all the wonky stuff in Fillipino lore - they have some of the absolutely strangest monsters ever. Aswang. Penanagallen. Etc.
And there's the "Monster Belt" that includes Loch Ness, Lake Champlain and about six others (with a "cousin" outside of the "belt" in Pennsylvania). The creatures are all remarkably similar, and have sightings going back decades (only about 2/3 of which have been since dubunked).
MA/NH is the area in which I used to live. It's weird to read about legends I've never heard of before from where I spent over twenty years of my life. Thank you for sharing!
 

CarburetorThompson

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The Dark Watchers (Wikipedia link)

Genuinely terrifying bit of NA folklore that is almost completely forgotten.

"Pepé looked suspiciously back every minute or so, and his eyes sought the tops of the ridges ahead. Once, on a white barren spur, he saw a black figure for a moment; but he looked quickly away, for it was one of the dark watchers. No one knew who the watchers were, nor where they lived, but it was better to ignore them and never to show interest in them. They did not bother one who stayed on the trail and minded his own business.”
Excerpt form John Steinbeck’s short story Flight, probably the most famous of the references to the legend
 
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