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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 2009. A picture circulated of this sighting, taken from a helicopter during flooding. This photo was debunked as having been edited from a picture of a river in the Congo.
Citations:
Gates, Josh. Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter. United Kingdom, Gallery Books, 2011.
Gavin, Traude. Iban Ritual Textiles. Netherlands, Brill, 2022.
Howell, William, and Bailey, Demetrius James Sandford. A Sea Dyak Dictionary, in Alphabetical Parts, with Examples and Quotations Shewing the Use and Meaning of Words. Singapore, Printed at the American Mission Press, 1900.
Mystical Travelling Guide Book: Indonesia. N.p., StoryTale Studios.
Roth, Henry Ling. The Natives of Sarawak and British North Borneo: Vol. II. N.p., Outlook Verlag, 2022.
Sutlive, Joanne. The Encyclopaedia of Iban Studies: O-Z. Malaysia, Tun Jugah Foundation, 2001.
Winzeler, Robert L.. The Architecture of Life and Death in Borneo. Hong Kong, University of Hawaii Press, 2004.
Nabau Puaka
The Nabau Puaka is a variation of the Nabau whose name means ”red dragon.” They’re angry creatures from the sea. It’s thought ancestors rode these creatures to an ancestral lake. The lake turns red when they fume with anger. They fight each other in the lake and cause volcanic eruptions in the heavens.
Citations:
Sagin, Dominic Dado. A Ring of Truth: A Journey Through Space-Time, Myths, Legends, and Oral Histories – the Adventour of a Headhunter. United States, Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency (SBPRA), 2013.
Nachzehrer/Nachtzehrer
The Nachzehrer is from Germany. Born with cauls on their faces and cursed to rise from the dead, they eat their burial shrouds and their own flesh to give them the energy to break out of their graves. They get out of the grave at midnight, then hunt their family to feed on their blood. They are known to spread disease, cause famine, and destroy crops. They can be repelled by putting a pair of scissors open facing the head of the bed under the pillow. Garlic can be used to ward them off. They can be stopped through exorcism.
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.
Ndesu/Nesu
The Ndesu is a cryptid reported from the Republic of the Congo. They’re described as giant hominids covered in dark hair with some lighter tufts mixed in. They prey on human, especially women and children, and have been known to attack both solitary travelers and entire caravans. They are thought to love music and dancing, and can be distracted by playing music.
Citations:
Eberhart, George M.. Mysterious Creatures [2 Volumes]: A Guide to Cryptozoology [2 Volumes]. Ukraine, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2002.
Ndzoondzoo
The Ndzoondzoo is from the Makua people of Southeast Africa. They are the size of a horse, extremely fast and very strong. They have a horn on their foreheads that is two and a half feet long. They are fierce creatures that attack without provocation. Their horns become flexible when they sleep and curls up on their heads. If the creatures are calm, they may stay in this resting position. Their horns regain their rigidity when they are hunting, or when they become excited. The females of this species do not possess the horn. To get away from these creatures you should climb a tree and avoid being seen. If they see a person in a tree, they will start ramming the tree with their horns until the tree falls, and then they will gore the person to death. They never fail at cutting the tree unless that tree is really thick. Once they kill a person, they leave the corpse without eating it.
Citations:
Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
Ruickbie, Leo. The Impossible Zoo: An Encyclopedia of Fabulous Beasts and Mythical Monsters. United Kingdom, Little, Brown Book Group, 2016.
Nephthys
Nephtyhys is a goddess of Egyptian myth. She is a funerary goddess and the goddess of weaving. She was closely associated with mummification and the linens used in this process are sometimes referred to as the “Tresses of Nephthys.” She was one of the children of Geb and Nut, and was married to her brother Set. She is often depicted as a human woman with a crown that says “mansion.” Nephthys alongside Isis guarded the mummified corpse of Osiris in the form of kites. Despite being married to Set, she lived with Isis and Osiris and had a child with Osiris named Anubis. She is thought to guide rulers through the underworld and weep for them as they pass.
Citations:
Jordan, Michael. Encyclopedia of Gods: Over 2,500 Deities of the World. United Kingdom, Kyle Cathie, 2005.
Pinch, Geraldine. Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2004.
Neuntöter/Neuntoter
The Neuntöter is an undead creature from Germany, usually Saxony. The name translates to “killer of nine” or “nine killer” and comes from the belief that these corpses take nine days to rise from the grave. They resemble corpses with rotting flesh and many open sores that smell like feces. They’re linked to the spreading of disease, which comes from their open sores. Because of this they’re typically seen during great epidemics. They are known to drink blood and may kill purely for its own enjoyment. A person will become a Neuntöter after death if they are born with teeth, born with a spoon in their mouth, or if they’re born with two rows of teeth. In some circumstances they die shortly after birth, and then may grab others after their death and cause those people to die as well. In the case of the spoon being in the mouth at birth, this spoon must be burned to ash and fed to the child to keep them from becoming a Neuntöter. They can be stopped through ritual exorcism, must be decapitated from 11 to midnight, and a lemon must be shoved in the mouth of the corpse. They can also be staked through the heart and have their head turned backwards before being reburied.
Citations:
Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017.
Bunson, Matthew. The Vampire Encyclopedia. United Kingdom, Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1993.
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.
Melton, J. Gordon. The Vampire Almanac: The Complete History. United States, Visible Ink Press.
Melton, J Gordon. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead. United Kingdom, Visible Ink Press, 2010.
Ronay, Gabriel. The Dracula Myth. United Kingdom, W. H. Allen, 1972.
The Newport Multiplying Aliens
The Newport Multiplying Aliens were sighted in Newport Oregon August 22, 2015, at 2:00 AM. The witnesses were a husband and wife who were sitting on the balcony of their 4th-floor hotel room. They saw what appeared to be a shooting star and after a moment they saw it was a white disk. It changed angles and flew parallel to the ocean and then slowed and made a boomerang-like maneuver. It was directly in front of their hotel room and three feet above the ocean. It moved back and forth a few feet and faded in and out of view multiple times. Just below the ship emerged three glowing beings with white faces. They were easy to see even in the dark and after a few minutes passed the disc disappeared and only the beings remained. It was difficult to judge their size due to distance but their bodies were clearly defined. They remained in formation and moved around in the sand and then multiplied going from three to six, to eight, to ten in total. The husband went to investigate as the wife continued watching the situation. The beings shrunk which both noted. He approached and saw what appeared to be ten large birds. He walked up close to them and they didn’t leave, he then shooed them away and they flew off.
Citations:
Rosales, Albert S.. Humanoid Encounters 2010-2015: The Others Amongst Us. United States, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
Ngani-Vatu/Ngutu-Lei
The Ngani-Vatu is a monster from the folklore of Fiji. It was a giant man-eating bird large enough to block out the sun with its body and create storms with its wing flaps. In one story, it took the wife of a man named Okiva. Okiva could not save his wife, so he tracked the Ngani-Vatu down with his brother-in-law Kokoua and killed it. The body of Ngani-Vatu was pushed into the water and created a massive tidal wave.
Citations:
Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
Ninki Nanka
The Ninki Nanka is a creature comes from the fresh water bodies in West Africa. It is described as having a body like a crocodile, a head like a horse with three horns, and a long neck. It is a nocturnal creature that lives in mangroves, and has a ravenous appetite. Some local legends state that it can transform into a thirty foot long giant snake.
Citations:
Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
Nisse
The Nisse are a form of Fae from Scandinavian myth. They resemble small humans standing no more than a few inches or feet tall, with one eye, grey or white beards, and pointy red hats. They have wool-like hair, large lower lips, and no thumbs. They live in barns and need to be fed on Thursdays and Christmas Eve. It’s thought that they’re only active at night when people are asleep. They could be helpful, bringing good luck and doing work in exchange for a third of a houses crops. They could however be harmful, tripping people, pushing them down stairs, releasing animals from their pens, and playing various pranks. Whatever the nature of the Nisse, they would never allow the mistreatment of animals. They could vanish easily, shapeshift, create illusions, or become completely invisible. It was said that Nisse would leave if given a new set of clothes.
Citations:
Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2013.
Mack, Dinah, et al. A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits. United States, Henry Holt and Company, 1999.
Niuhi/Lala-Kea/Kihikihi
The Niuhi is a class of man eating sea creature from Hawaiian myth. An alternate name Lala-Kea was once treated as a proper name, but eventually became synonymous with this classification. Sometimes any shark measuring over 3.5 meters is identified as a Niuhi, though they are sometimes believed to be the souls of demigods entering sharks after, or even before, their death. Alternate names like Lālākea refers to reef sharks, and Kihikihi refers to hammerhead sharks. They are believed to be capable of taking human form, have glowing fiery eyes, and are feared for their ferocity and reputation to devour all people. They are dark grey in color with lighter underbodies, tail lobes nearly equal in length, and thick, heavy bodies. In songs of the traditional Hula Manó (shark dance), it is referred to as a monstrous shark with triple banked teeth. For the average person, this was an indication to return to shore as fishing will be spoiled, and the shark may attack their boat. Some see these creatures as a metaphor of humanities relationship with the ocean. Some individuals were allowed to hunt for Niuhi, while it was forbidden and considered taboo for any others to hunt them. When Niuhi were caught, they would not be eaten, but their teeth would be made into prized knives. They can be found in temperate and tropical areas, identified by their glowing eyes seen in the water at night. They required vast amounts of bait to catch and would be lured in with the decomposing body of a pig as it would be attracted to the grease. The Niuhi were comfortable with being touched (as they are thought to be tamable like pet pigs) and hunting the Niuhi would involve making it accustomed to touch, sneaking a noose around their body, and then pulling them in after a great struggle. Warriors and chiefs who successfully hunt Niuhi are thought to gain their power. They are theorized to possibly be related to the tiger shark.
Citations:
Fantasy and Myth in the Anthropocene: Imagining Futures and Dreaming Hope in Literature and Media. United Kingdom, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022.
The Story of Hawaii: History, Customs, Mythology, Geography & Archaeology. N.p., e-artnow, 2021.
Taylor, Leighton R.. Sharks of Hawaii: Their Biology and Cultural Significance. United States, University of Hawaii Press, 1993.
Titcomb, Margaret, and Pukui, Mary Kawena. Native Use of Fish in Hawaii. United States, University of Hawaii Press, 1972.
Nora/Nore
The Nora are vampiric creatures from Hungarian myth. They often take the form of small, bald, and fragile children. They often run around on all fours in their human form. They may have initially been human. They can become invisible at will. They have a bite comparable to the sting of a wasp and are seen as annoying rather than lethal. They search out sleeping prostitutes and drain blood from their chests. It’s thought they feed on “tainted blood” from women they deem “unclean.” In some versions they also consume breast milk from victims. Crushed garlic can be applied to the injury to soothe it and prevent further attacks. Stories of the Nora may have been used to explain STDs.
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, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
Nordics
The Nordics are a form of alien more commonly sighted than many other forms of alien. They resemble pale and thin humans described as beautiful figures with blue eyes and long blond hair. They can supposedly live over 1000 years. They communicate telepathically. Some claim they’ve imparted knowledge of proper diet and prolonged life. Some have suggested the description, resembling the idea of the Aryan race, and their nature, that of near perfection, implies a level of racial bias. They were first described in Arizona in1952 by George Adamski. He sighted a silver UFO shaped like a cigar, which several other people also attested to seeing. He encountered an alien who telepathically introduced himself as Orthon of Venus. This alien wore a loose turtleneck-like garment that was tight around the wrists and ankles, and a belt. He stated that his mission was peaceful and benevolent, and also stated he shared Adamski’s beliefs of Theosophy. He refused to be photographed and gave warnings about the dangers of atom bombs and nuclear war. Adamski went on to say he encountered more Nordics and was even taken to the dark side of the moon and to Venus. He also said that all planets, and that part of the moon, has a breathable atmosphere. One scientific argument that pokes holes in this story is that due to the intense atmosphere of Venus, a hypothetical inhabitant thereof would have an incredibly different biology to humans and would likely be incapable of surviving in the atmosphere of Earth. Accounts from Eduard “Billy” Meier in the 1970s say they have “beam ships” that he had photographed. Meier also claimed they were the origin of Angels from the bible. According to him they come from a planet smaller than Earth called Erra from the Pleiades and are therefore called Plejarens. He says he traveled with them and visited other galaxies and universes, and also back in time to take a photo of dinosaurs. There’s also a man named Howard Menger who claimed to have married a Nordic.
Citations
Callahan, Timothy D., and Prothero, Donald R.. UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens: What Science Says. United States, Indiana University Press, 2017.
Rutkowski, Chris A.. Alien Abductions and UFO Sightings 5-Book Bundle: The Big Book of UFOs / I Saw It Too! / Abductions and Aliens / and 2 More. United States, Dundurn Press, 2016.
North Carolina Bear Alien
The North Carolina Eldritch Bear Alien was sighted in North Carolina on November 26, 2003, at 5:00 a.m. The witness left home early for deer hunting. A minute before dawn, a bright red light appeared above a ridge opposite to his location, less than 200 yards away. 10 minutes later he heard a loud noise from that direction. He raised his rifle and looked through the scope to locate the source of the noise. He spotted a figure standing behind a tree staring at him. It resembled an impossibly large bear and hid behind the tree after being noticed. It leaned back out, described as seven feet tall, pasty grey, thick like a large man, with big black or brown eyes, and a large head lined with tentacles. The witness cried as the figure continued looking at him. The staredown was 20 minutes before the witness got out of his deer stand and ran away. He saw the figure watching him leave.
Citations:
Rosales, Albert S. Humanoid Encounters 2000-2009: The Others Amongst Us. N.p., Amazon Digital Services LLC – Kdp, 2021.
Nosferat/Nosferatu
The Nosferat is a form of vampire most commonly known from Bram Stokers’ Dracula, and may have originated there as well. The name supposedly comes from the Greek word “nosphoros” meaning “plague carrier,” but the term Nosferat has not been reliably found in any East European dictionaries. This could make it a form of old Fakelore which became so intertwined with actual myth that it became a part of accepted myth in the modern day. The Nosferat was sometimes seen as a form of living vampire, and has been thought to originate as the illegitimate child of two people who were also born as illegitimate children. Sometimes it is instead a form of risen dead that rises from the grave of a stillborn child. It drains the blood of sleeping victims, often those of the opposite gender, and may act similar to the Succubus. To younger prey, it approaches in a seductive form, but to older prey, it appears simply as a bloodsucking monster. Children of a human and a Nosferat are ugly, covered in thick hair, and would become Moroiu. They often carry disease and can shape shift into the form of animals or inanimate objects. They have no fear of the sun, and appear at isolated locations during the day, and often leave in pillars of smoke. They were well known to approach newlyweds to attempt to make them break their vows. If they succeeded then they would disappear. If they failed, then they made women barren and men impotent. Newlyweds could keep these creatures away by sprinkling holy water on their bed, and placing coals from a church underneath. Having a dog next to newlyweds would also repel a Nosferat. A Nosferat would persist on earth for ninety-nine years, and would then descend to Hell to torture adulterers.
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.
Skal, David J.. Hollywood Gothic: The Tangled Web of Dracula from Novel to Stage to Screen. United States, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004.
Nozuchi
The Nozuchi is a yokai from Japan. They are comparable to the Tsuchinoko, and its name means “field hammer.” They have large bodies, wide mouths, and have no eyes, noses, arms, or legs. They are thought to be spirits of flora and greenery that eat humans. They supposedly originated with a monk who practiced Buddhism for selfish gain. Because he was skilled in talking, but lacked the eyes, hands, and feet for reaching wisdom, he was reborn as this creature.
Citations:
Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
Sekien, Toriyama. Japandemonium Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopedias of Toriyama Sekien. United States, Dover Publications, 2017.