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Shade/Shadow/Umbra
The Shade are a form of ghost from theosophical beliefs. It was believed to be the spirit that remains after the body dies and hovers near where it was buried. After death, the Romans believed the spirit was separated into the Anima, which ascended to heaven, the Mane, which descended to the underworld, and the Shade that remained on earth. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Shachihoko
The Shachihoko is a mythical creature from Japanese and Chinese myth. They’re known to have a striped tiger head or the head of a dragon. The body is described as resembling a carp covered in poisonous spikes or scales. It’s believed they can crawl onto land to transform fully into a tiger. Carvings of Shachihoko are used similar to Gargoyles in Japan. Duer to their ability to make rain, it was thought their statues deterred fire. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us,…
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Farasi Bahari/Sabarifya
The Farasi Bahari are emerald green horses that are said to inhabit the Indian Ocean. It’s believed they leave the water at certain parts of the year to graze on an island off the coast of Africa. When this happens, people leave mares on the island in the hope of breeding hybrid horses. These hybrids are green foals with incredible endurance, supposedly due to their lack of lungs. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Saltos Cabra Chupacabra
The Saltos Cabra Chupacabra was a strange creature sighted in Saltos Cabra, Puerto Rico, in March 1995 at night. It was sighted by two anonymous officers responding to a call of mutilated lambs. It was seen standing on the side of the road. They described it as humanoid and orange-yellow in color. They could see no facial features due to the dark. It moved quickly and ran off into thick brush to escape. One officer attempted to follow but experienced an overwhelming headache and dizziness requiring aid. Citations: Rosales, Albert. Humanoid Encounters 1995-1999: The Others Amongst Us. N.p., CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015.
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Splinter Cat
The Splinter Cat is a creature from lumberjack folklore, particularly in Wisconsin and Minnesota. They’re described as large cats with hardened skulls. They solely feed on raccoons and bees by charging into trees and breaking them into splinters. The result of their actions makes the trees look like they were struck by lightning. Citations: Rose, Carol. Giants Monsters and Dragons: An Encyclopedia Of Folklore Legend And Myth. United Kingdom, WW Norton, 2001.
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Sisior
In a story from the island of Yap, there was a woman from Maki named Sisior. She went to bathe next to her house, and her tattoos were visible as she undressed. A demon in the form of an eel saw this and fell in love with her. When it approached her, she panicked and ran away. In her dreams, she saw a handsome man who asked why she ran away when he approached her in the water. She was confused until the man explained he appeared in the form of an eel. She explained she did see him but was afraid of the eel, so he asked her to…
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Steep Rock Lake Water Bandits
The Steep Rock Lake Water Bandits come from a sighting that was later revealed to be a hoax. The supposed encounter was sent in as an anonymous letter to the local newspaper and said to have occurred on July 2, 1950, near Sawmill Bay on Steep Rock Lake, northwest Ontario. A couple was having a picnic when the air began to vibrate from shock waves. They saw a ship on the water resembling two saucers with one on top of the other with one upside down. The couple watched these beings from behind a rock. A hatch at the top of the ship opened and several figures wearing metallic uniforms…
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Sukuyan
The Sukuyan is a vampiric form of witch from Trinidad and Tobago. They remove their skin to fly around at night in the form of a ball of light. They can also take the form of jungle cats, big dogs, and predatory night birds. They prey on sleeping humans but must return to skin before dawn, or perish. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Dipsa/Situla
The Dipsa is an obscure creature from Greek myth. They’re described as serpents so small they cannot be seen. Their body is destroyed when they’re stepped on and they deliver a lethal bite. The venom acts so fast that the victim doesn’t feel the pain of the bite before death, though it’s believed that its bite causes an unquenchable thirst. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Shar Khorkhoi
The Shar Khorkhoi is a rare cryptid similar to the Mongolian Death Worm. They have been sighted along the Tost Mountains of Mongolia. They were described as long yellow worms when several came out of holes in the ground. The witness ran away and looked back to see over 50 approaching. Citation: Shuker, Karl. The Beasts That Hide from Man: Seeking the World’s Last Undiscovered Animals. United States, Paraview Press, 2014.
