Ok. I’m tired of the typical vampire, werewolf and fairy.I’m also tired of the occidental-centrism in mythology. Hence, this list.
I tried to include as many cultural variants as I could find and think of. (Unfortunately, I was restricted by language. Some Russian creatures looked very interesting but I don’t speak Russian…) Please, add creatures from your culture when reblogguing (if not already present). It took me a while to gather all those sites but I know it could be more expansive. I intend on periodically editing this list.
Of note: I did not include specific legendary creatures (Merlin, Pegasus, ect), gods/goddesses/deities and heroes.
- Dragons
The Ancient Dragon (Egypt, Babylon and Sumer)
Lindworm: The wingless dragon (Norse mythology)
Of the Cockatrice (creature with the body of a dragon)
Alphabetical List of Dragons Across Myths (Great way to start)
Balaur: the Romanian Dragon, more on the balaur
Taniwha: A dragon in Maori traditions
- Little creatures (without wings)
The Legend of the Leprechauns, The Leprechaun
Chanaque /Alux (the equivalent of leprechauns in Aztec/Mayan folklore)
Elves in Mythology and Fantasy
Landvaettir: protectors of the land
Korrigans, more on Korrigans (Dwarf-like fairies in Breton folklore)
Kabeiroi or Cabeiri (Dwarf-like minor gods in Greek mythology)
The Myth of Loki and the Dwarves
Eloko (dwarves in Zaire mythology. Also called Biloko)
- Creatures with wings (except dragons)
Fairies in Old French Mythology
Bendith Y Mamau (Welsh fairies)
Peri (Persian fairies)
Yü Nü (Chinese fairies)
Garuda (Bird-like creature in Hindu and Buddhist myths)
Bean Nighe (a Scottish fairy; the equivalent of a banshee in Celtic mythology)
- Spirited Creatures
Jinn (Genies in Arabic folklore)
Aisha Qandisha and Djinn in Moroccan Folklore
Oni (demons in Japanese folklore)
Boggarts: The British Poltergeist
Demons in Babylonian and Assyrian Mythology (list)
Demons in the Americas (list)
European Demons (list)
Middle-East and Asia Demons (list)
Judeo-Christian Demons (list)
Mahaha (a demon in Inuit religious traditions)
Flying Head (a demon in Iroquois religious traditions)
Huldra, more on the Huldra (spirit of the forest in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In Norwegian folklore, they are called skogsfru)
- Ghosts
Toyol (a dead baby ghost in Malay folklore)
Yuki-onna (a ghost in Japanese folklore)
The Pontianak (a ghost in Malay mythology)
Funayurei (a ghost in Japanese folklore)
Zagaz (ghosts in Moroccan folklore)
Kitsune (a fox spirit in Japanese folklore)
Dullahan (a headless ghost in Celtic mythology), more details
Tulpa (ghost in Tibetan folklore)
- Horse-like mythical creatures
The Kelpie (Could have also fitted in the sea creatures category)
Hippocamps (sea horses in Greek mythology)
Horse-like creatures (a list)
Karkadann, more on the Karkadann (a persian unicorn)
Ceffyl Dwfr (fairy-like water horse creatures in Cymric mythology)
- Undead creatures
Asanbosam and Sasabonsam (Vampires from West Africa)
The Aswang: The Filipino Vampire
Folklore Vampires Versus Literary Vampires
Callicantzaros: The Greek Vampire
Dhampir: Half human half vampire, more on dhampirs (Eastern Europe mythology)
Strigoi: another Romanian Vampire
Pricolici:an undead werewolf in Romanian mythology,
Loogaroo/Socouyant: The Haitian Vampire
Incubi and Sucubi Across Cultures
Varacolaci: The Romanian Vampire
Brahmaparusha: The Indian Vampire
The Ghoul in Middle East Mythology
Chiang-Shih: The Chinese Vampire, more on Chiang-Shih
The Medical Truth Behind the Vampire Myths
- Shape-shifters and half-human creatures (except mermaids)
Satyrs (half-man, half-goat)
Sirens in Greek Mythology (half-woman and half-bird creatures)
The Original Werewolf in Greek Mythology
Werewolf Syndrome: A Medical Explanation to the Myth
The Kumiho (half fox and half woman creatures)
Scorpion Men (warriors from Babylonian mythology)
Domovoi (a shape-shifter in Russian folklore)
Aatxe (Basque mythology; red bull that can shift in a human)
Yech (Native American folklore)
Ijiraat (shapeshifters in Inuit religious traditions)
Vilkacis (a werewolf in Lithuanian mythology)
- Sea creatures
Jengu: the Cameroonian mermaid
The Kraken (a sea monster)
Nuckelavee (a Scottish elf who mainly lives in the sea)
Lamiak (sea nymphs in Basque mythology)
Bunyip (sea monster in Aboriginal religious tradition)
Apkallu/abgal (Sumerian mermen)
An assemblage of myths and legends on water and water creatures
The Encantado (water spirits in Ancient Amazon River mythology)
Zin (water spirit in Nigerian folklore)
Qallupilluk (sea creatures in Inuit religious traditions)
Bunyip (Aboriginal mythology)
- Monsters That Don’t Fit in Any Other Category
Aigamuxa, more details on Aigamuxa
Myrmidons (ant warriors)
Giants: The Mystery and the Myth (50 min long documentary)
Inupasugjuk (giants in Inuit religious traditions)
Fomorians (an Irish divine race of giants)
The Manticore, The Manticore and The Leucrouta
The Orthus (two-headed serpent-tailed dog)
Rakshasa (humanoids in Hindu and Buddhist mythology)
Yakshas (warriors in Hindu mythology)
Taqriaqsuit (“Shadow people” in Inuit religious traditions)
- References on Folklore and Mythology Across the Globe
An Overview of Persian Folklore
List of Medieval and Ancient Monsters
Native American Animals of Myth and Legends
Native American Myths (*I say myths as in: stories of the creation of the world)
Bestiary of Ancient Greek Mythology
Mythology, Legend, Folklore and Ghosts
Ghosts Around the World, Ghosts From A to Z
Strange (Fantastic) Animals of Ancient Egypt
On the Legendary Creatures of Africa
Celtic Mythology (Welsh and Irish)
- References on writing a myth or mythical creatures
Writing a MYTHology in your novel?
10 Steps to Creating Realistic Fantasy Creatures
Creating Fantasy Creatures or Alien Species
Questions You Need to Answer When Creating a Mythology for Your World
Book Recommendations With Underrated Mythical Creatures
(I have stumbled upon web sites that believed some of these mythical creatures exist today… Especially dragons, in fact. I just had to share the love and scepticism.)