River Monsters
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Kappa
The Kappa is a water-dwelling yokai from Japanese myth. Its name can be translated as “river child.” Sometimes, the Kappa are revered as a form of water gods. They are often depicted with scaly skin that is red, green, or blue. Their faces consist of bulging eyes and turtle beaks. Commonly they have a bowl-like dip in the top of their skull meant to hold water. They’re amphibious or reptilian and move effectively in water, but are clumsy on land. They have webbed hands and feet that lack thumbs, and a turtle shell on their backs. Oddly they have an elastic-like waterproof skin that smells like fish and can be…
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Cougar Fish
The Cougar Fish is a creature from Lumberjack folklore. They have the “scientific name” Pterygium unguis acutis. They’re described as violent and savage fish with claws at the ends of their fins. They’re found only in the Big Onion River and rest in shallow rough sections of water, clawing any lumberjacks that pass. A reward was placed on them, and after which the fish seemed to disappear, and none were ever found. Citations: Wyman, Walker D. Mythical Creatures of the USA and Canada.(River Falls, WI: Univ of Wisconsin Riverfalls Press,1978.)
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Lukwata/Lokwata/Luquata
The Lukwata is a cryptid from East Africa living in Lake Victoria and connecting rivers, sometimes related to another cryptid called the Lau. Its name may come from a Bantu prefix “lu” meaning large, though some believe it may come from imperfect English being used to say “look (at the) water.” They’re thought to grow 20-30 feet long, or the size of a porpoise with a four-foot-long neck. They’re reported to be dark in color with a round or oval-shaped head. They are aggressive and swim with their heads out of the water, moving with vertical undulations and creating whirlpools. They have loud bellowing voices, and attack boats, canoes, and…
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Agogwe
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Lau
The Lau is a rare cryptid from swamps at the source of the White Nile. The marshes thought to hold this creature are largely unexplored, adding credibility to the idea of an unknown species. They inhabit holes in the banks of the river or swamps, though mostly in the swamps. This creature is known to the Nuer, Dinka, and Shilluk people of Africa. The Nuer people would identify their presence by a long rut in the ground, and run away from it. It’s believed that if a Lau sees a group of people before they see it, then it is assumed that all of them will die. If a group…
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Tirisuk/Tirichuk
The Tirisuk is a monster from Inuit myth. They are creatures similar to dragons but often combine the features of reptiles and either centipedes or caterpillars. They have large leathery feelers or antennae which they use to grab prey. Sometimes they have four legs, and jaws like snapping turtles that could tear through anything. They typically eat humans and even whole hunting parties. They are sometimes thought to live in a giant hole, or in the Buckland and Noatak rivers. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Francis, Scott. Monster Spotter’s Guide to North America. United States, Adams…
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Piranu
The Piranu is an aggressive and territorial form of monstrous fish from Argentina. They have large black fish-like bodies with the heads of horses and large eyes. They live in deep freshwater rivers, and ram any boats which gets too close. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Murung River Bear
The Murung River Bear is a cryptid reported from the Murung River in Borneo, Indonesia. They are described as bear-like creatures that gather along the river once a year to feed on berries, while otherwise they live in the jungle. They can swim and have been known to attack boats and claw humans to death. Citations: Eberhart, George M.. Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology. United Kingdom, ABC-CLIO, 2002.
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Moorundi Water Spirit
The Moorundi Water Spirit is an unnamed creature from the myths of the Moorundi people of Australia by the Murray River. This bizarre creature is sometimes related to stories of the Bunyip. The creature is dreaded by the local people and appears frequently. Despite the frequency of its appearances, it was supposedly difficult to describe, with the closest comparison being to a giant starfish. The story of this creature was documented by a naturalist named George French Angas in 1847. Citations: Angas, George French. Savage Life and Scenes in Australia and New Zealand: Being an Artist’s Impressions of Countries and People at the Antipodes. United Kingdom, Reed, 1847. Journal of…
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Miga/Migas
The Migas are large aquatic cryptids from the Congo. They are described as huge flat creatures with long tentacle-like protrusions. Sometimes it’s thought to have a head comparable to a gorgon. They’re thought to live in the upper waterways of the Congo River. Anything that gets too close to them is grabbed and pulled down to their lair. They are known to hide among rocks. They drain victims of blood and eat brains from infants. Some theorized identities of these creatures are freshwater octopus, drastically warped stories of manatees, or giant catfish. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers,…
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Ebigane
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Nabau/Iban Dragon
The Nabau is a mysterious creature from Borneo, Indonesia resembling a giant snake. The term Nabau can be either singular or plural. They have a diameter like a big drum, scales the size of plates, measure eighty feet long, and swim around in rivers. They’re described as dragon-like creatures with small or non-existent legs and seven nostrils. They’re also believed to poop pythons. It has been described as an ancient serpent spirit and depictions of Nabau often show small animals near the mouth to represent food. It is thought to sometimes show itself, and some locals claim to have witnessed it. It was sighted in the Baleh River in February…
