Ethiopia
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Troglodyte/Trocodite
The Troglodyte is a primitive humanoid creature from Medieval myth. They were recorded in unclear areas of maps, and were thought to be from deserts in Ethiopia. Their name means “hole creepers” due to their tendency to dwell in caves. They lack the ability to speak and are thought to communicate through clicking sounds. They’re thought to climb trees to jump on prey or lie in wait near paths to lunge at them. They’re also thought to be incredibly fast and capable of running down most wild game. Sometimes they had three faces and were often shown eating snakes. They’re known to eat the flesh of elephants they chase down,…
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Huspalim
The Huspalim is strange creature from Ethiopian folklore. They resembled giant marmots. Sightings of them were recorded by Europeans during medieval times. They had huge round heads, tiny round ears, monkey-like faces, round paws, and bald red spotted skin. They were supposedly kept in cages on the island of Zacotera, where they could serve as good food but only if the meat was beaten thoroughly. Citations: Rose, Carol. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth. United Kingdom, Norton, 2001.
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Callitrice/Callitrix
The Callitrice is a mythical creature from Medieval myth. They resemble Satyrs with long beard, and long thick tails. They’re thought to live in desolate parts of Ethiopia, and tend to hide from humans. Though they are very hard to find, they’re thought to be easy to capture. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Bouda
The Bouda is a creature from the folklore of Morocco, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. It is a creature classified as a living vampire that can also return as an undead vampire. They are often thought to be blacksmiths who forge metal amulets to control their ability to shapeshift. With this magic they take the physical form of a hyena but maintain their human intelligence. Without the amulet, they can’t transform back into a human and their minds become that of a hyena as well. In hyena form they consume flesh and blood, but they have no supernatural strength and can be killed with normal weapons. Citations: Vampire Universe: The Dark World…
