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Akhlut
The Akhlut is from Inuit/Yup’ik Mythology. It is a killer whale who can turn into a wolf and hunt prey on land. It can be identified by wolf tracks that head into the sea. Citations: Sullivan, Irene F., and Gill, Sam D.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
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Aka Manto/Aoi Manto/ Aka Kami/Aoi Hanten/Aoi Kami
Aka Manto is from Japan and is considered to be from modern folklore and urban legend. He haunts women’s restrooms. He stays in the furthest stall and ask the next occupant over if they want blue or red paper. If blue is picked, he hangs the woman. If red is picked, he slashes the woman repeatedly across the back with a blade. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016
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Aipalookvik
Aipalookvik is from Inuit mythology. It is a Tuurngait (a being similar to a god) of the dead alongside Anguta. However, where Anguta was seen as benevolent, Aipalookvik was considered evil. He was seen as a threat to fishermen and anyone else who went out on the water. Aipalookvik would manifest as a spirit that possesses dead bodies. When it would find a victim, it would drain their body heat and drag them into the water. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017. Brown, Nathan Robert, and Smith, Evans Lansing. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to World Mythology. United States, Alpha Books, 2008.
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Ai Apaec
Ai Apaec is a Peruvian deity from the North Coast in Mohican culture. He has massive fangs, a feline mouth, a jaguar-like headdress, and serpent earrings. He was called “The Decapitator” and was depicted on the pyramid of the moon. The spider-like tentacles in his depictions supposedly drained blood from victims. He was often depicted under the throne of the sky god and usually placed on a high mountain and he was thought to have a home on Cerro Blanco. He was seen as a founding deity and possibly the son of a mountain god. During times of drought or flood, he would oversee sacrifices and ask the gods to…
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Ahuizotl
The Ahuizotl is a creature from Aztec myth. The name means “water dog” or “water possum.” It is the size of a dog, has slippery black skin, a human hand at the end of its tail, small pointed ears, and a monkey face. It stays just under the water and waves its hand to lure people close to the water. It grabs those who get too close with its hand tail and drowns them. It then eats the eyes, teeth, and nails of its victims. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Ahool
The Ahool is a cryptid from Java Indonesia. It flies at night and has a 12-foot wingspan. It has a monkey head, dark grey fur, large dark eyes, and claw tipped wings. It is usually timid and eats fish and small game. It lives behind waterfalls. It is named after the call it makes, which sounds like “Ahool.” It is the size of a one-year-old child. It has been compared to the Olitiau. It is known to many of the native people and was sighted in 1925 by Dr. Ernest Bartels. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.…
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El Agüelo/El Abuelo
El Agüelo is a creature whose name translates to “grandfather” in Spanish and is speculated to have some connection to words of the Pueblo Native Americans. He serves as a bogeyman figure, sometimes identical to the Cucuy, and possibly related to a similar figure named Laguna Chapió. He also serves as a prominent figure in the Los Matachines dance, along with La Abuela who serves as his female counterpart. He is most commonly from New Mexico and Colorado, more so than other parts of the Southwest. He is depicted as an intimidating old man with a scary mask on his face. Sometimes the mask is a tortilla adorned with buffalo horns…
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Agogwe
The Agogwe is a cryptid from East Africa. It is a hairy hominid with yellowish-red skin, rust colored hair, and standing roughly four to five feet tall. It is believed to live in remote forested areas. One notable sighting occurred in 1900 by a man named Captain William Hichens. It is thought to fall into the Proto-Pygmy classification of hominids among cryptozoologists. Citations: Coleman, Loren, and Clark, Jerome. Cryptozoology A To Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters Sasquatch Chupacabras and Other Authentic M. United States, Touchstone, 2013.
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Aeternae
The Aeternae are creatures who were thought to live in North India. They have a horn in the center of their heads with saw-like edges, which they attack with. These creatures supposedly were responsible for killing several soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great. Some have theorized they may be based off of the antelope. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Adze
The Adze is from the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo. It is a vampire-witch, a living vampire, or an evil spirit that possesses someone. It takes the form of a firefly, a glowing beetle, or a large mosquito. It is attracted to hunts and drains the blood from children. It also carries diseases when it feeds. Although it drinks blood it can also drink coconut milk or palm oil to survive. If angered it may go into a frenzy and drink all the palm oil and coconut milk in the area. When supplied with plenty of food it takes only what it needs, but when denied feeding it becomes…
