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Vatnagedda

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Tradition / Region: Icelandic folklore
Alternate Names: Eiturgedda (“Poison Pike”), Loch-Pike
Category: Fish, Flounder

The Myth

Among the dangerous fishes of Icelandic lakes, none is feared more than the Vatnagedda, known also as the Eiturgedda, the poisonous pike. Despite its name, it does not resemble a pike. It is described as a small, furry, flounder-like fish, most often golden in color, though some accounts speak of blue variants.

The Vatnagedda is lethally poisonous in every part of its body. Its flesh and skin contain a corrosive toxin so powerful that mere contact is fatal. The poison eats through cloth, leather, and even solid materials, dissolving both organic and inorganic matter. Nothing living is immune to it—not even ghosts or spirits.

Because of this, the presence of a dead Vatnagedda is believed to drive away evil beings. Its fat is said to cure pain caused by ghosts, hauntings, and sorcery, making the creature both feared and sought after.

Vatnageddas dwell at the bottom of dark, murky lakes. They are said to hate light, which can kill them, and for this reason they only rise to the surface before storms or during heavy fog. To catch one, a fisherman must use a hook baited with gold. Even then, the task is extremely dangerous. The angler must wear gloves made of human skin, or else many layers of skate skin. Despite these precautions, handling the fish often causes burns, rashes, and swelling.

Once caught, the greatest challenge is keeping the Vatnagedda contained. Its poison gradually destroys anything around it. In one tale, a Vatnagedda wrapped in two horse skins burned its way through them, melted into the ground, and vanished beneath the earth. The only known way to transport the creature safely is to wrap it first in the caul of a newborn child, and then in the caul of a calf.

One story tells of a sorcerer who came to the aid of a farmer whose home was plagued by an evil spirit. The haunting drove the farmer’s daughter to madness. Wearing human-skin gloves and using a gold-baited hook, the sorcerer caught a Vatnagedda from Gedduvatn, Pike Lake. The dead fish was sealed in a bottle, wrapped in layers of sheepskin and leather, and placed on a pack horse.

By the time the sorcerer returned, the horse bore a hairless, sunken wound on its back where the fish had rested, and it remained weakened for the rest of its life. The Vatnagedda was buried beneath the threshold of the house, and from that moment on, the haunting ceased. The evil spirit never returned, and the girl fully recovered.

Gallery

Sources

A Book of Creatures contributors. (n.d.). Vatnagedda. In A Book of Creatures, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/06/26/vatnagedda/

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Buarach-bhaoi

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Tradition / Region: Scottish Mythology
Alternate Names: Buarach na Baoi; Buarach-bhaoi nan sùilean claon
Category: Fish, Eel

The Myth

The Buarach-bhaoi, whose name means “the wild shackle” or “the shackle of the furious one,” is a dangerous water creature believed to dwell in dark rivers, lochs, and fords. It is described as a leech- or eel-like being, lurking unseen beneath the surface.

When horses attempted to cross certain waters, the Buarach-bhaoi would suddenly coil itself around their legs like an iron shackle. Unable to free themselves, the animals would stumble, fall, and be dragged beneath the water, where they drowned. Afterward, the creature would suck their blood.

The Buarach-bhaoi is said to have nine eyes or holes along its head and back. Through these openings, the blood it consumed would seep out again. Because of this strange and unsettling feature, it was also called “the furious shackle of the squinting eyes.”

Stories place the Buarach-bhaoi in several regions. It was believed to haunt dangerous crossings, especially the dark waters of Loch Tummel, as well as rivers and lochs in Badenoch, Perthshire, and along the west coast of Argyllshire. Wherever the waters ran deep, fast, and shadowed, people feared it might be waiting.

The Buarach-bhaoi was not thought to hunt humans directly, but its presence made certain crossings deadly. Travelers learned to avoid suspicious fords, knowing that what looked like still water might conceal a living shackle beneath.

Gallery

Sources

Campbell, J. G. (2020). Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland. Originally published 1900.

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Fario

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Tradition / Region: Dutch Mythology
Category: Fish

The Myth

In the waters off Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, fishermen speak of Fario, the king of the herrings. He is not an ordinary fish, but a ruler among his kind, set apart from all others.

It is strictly forbidden to catch Fario. To do so is believed to bring great misfortune. If a fisherman should ever find Fario in his nets by accident, he must throw the fish back into the sea immediately, without delay or hesitation. Only by returning him at once can bad luck be avoided.

There is a tale of a greedy fisherman who ignored this warning. When he caught Fario, he kept the fish instead of releasing it. From that moment on, the sea turned against him. All fishing suddenly ceased—not only for him, but for everyone. The waters yielded nothing, as though the herrings themselves had vanished.

From this, people learned that Fario is not merely a fish, but a guardian of abundance. As long as he remains free, the sea continues to provide. If he is taken, the balance is broken, and the waters fall silent.

Gallery

Sources

Abe de Verteller contributors. (n.d.). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. In Abe de Verteller, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

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Oarfish

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Dragon Palace Guard Sword, Sea Messenger
Category: Fish, Spirit

The Myth

In the deep and distant seas lives an immense, slender fish known as the Oarfish, sometimes called the Messenger of the Dragon Palace. Its body is long and pale like polished silver, marked with strange circular patterns, and crowned with vivid red fins that trail behind it like a flowing mane. When it rises from the depths, it moves with slow, solemn grace, as though carrying a message from another world.

The oarfish is rarely seen. It normally dwells far below the surface, beyond the reach of ordinary fishermen. When it does appear near the shore, people believe it is not by chance. Its emergence is taken as a sign—a warning from the sea itself. The sight of its red crest cutting through the water is said to foretell great disturbances: earthquakes, storms, or upheavals hidden beneath the waves.

Because of its size and otherworldly appearance, the oarfish has long been regarded as a strange being rather than a mere fish. Those who encounter it often describe it as unfamiliar and unsettling, a creature that does not belong to the human world. Some say it glides just above the water’s surface, its fins spreading wide like wings, as though it could lift itself into the air.

The oarfish is also linked to tales of beings from the sea depths—palace guardians, messengers, and even merfolk. Its flowing red fins and pale body resemble the descriptions of sea spirits and mysterious women of the ocean, and it is sometimes said that the oarfish travels between the Dragon Palace beneath the sea and the world above, carrying omens rather than words.

Though it does not attack humans, its presence inspires unease. To see an oarfish is to be reminded that the sea has its own will, its own hidden realms, and its own warnings. When it appears, people watch the water closely, knowing that something unseen is stirring in the depths.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 山姥 (Yama-uba). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1077741626.html

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Amitabha Fish

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology, Budhist lore
Alternate Names: Amida Fish
Category: Fish

The Myth

Long ago, far to the southwest of the land of Shushishi, there lay an island where more than five hundred families lived by fishing. The people depended entirely on the sea, and their days were spent casting nets and hauling in their catch.

One day, an extraordinary event occurred. From the sea came countless large fish, swimming all the way onto the shore. The islanders were overjoyed and rushed to the beach, expecting a great bounty. As they gathered, they heard something strange: each fish made a sound like a human voice, repeatedly calling out, “Amida Buddha, Amida Buddha.”

The people, unfamiliar with Buddhist teachings, did not understand the meaning of the words. They simply named the creatures Amitabha Fish, after the sound they made. They soon noticed that whenever the name was spoken aloud, more fish would approach the shore. Discovering this, the islanders began chanting the name again and again, using it to lure the fish closer.

The fish did not flee. They allowed themselves to be taken and killed. When the people ate their flesh, they found it astonishingly delicious. Those who chanted the name of Amida Buddha fervently said the taste was rich and sweet, while those who chanted only weakly found the meat bitter and sharp. Entranced by the flavor, the islanders began chanting the sacred name constantly, driven by both pleasure and habit.

In time, an elder—one of the first to eat the Amitabha Fish—passed away. Three months later, he appeared on the shore riding a purple cloud, his body shining with radiant light. He spoke to the people, saying:

“After my death, I was reborn in the Pure Land. This came to pass because I delighted in the flesh of the Amitabha Fish and chanted the name of Amida Buddha. That great fish was none other than Amida Buddha himself, taking pity on our ignorance. He transformed into a fish, guided us to chant his name, and even offered his own body as food. Because of the bond formed through this act, I was reborn in the Pure Land.”

He then said that anyone who doubted his words should look upon the remains of the fish.

After the elder vanished, the people examined the discarded bones of the Amitabha Fish. They found that every bone had transformed into a lotus flower.

Filled with awe and remorse, the islanders abandoned killing and devoted themselves entirely to chanting the name of Amida Buddha. In time, each of them was reborn in the Pure Land. The island was left empty and silent, its former inhabitants gone, leaving only the shore where the sacred fish had once gathered.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 狐火 (Kitsunebi). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1065099106.html

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Nuegyo

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Nue
Category: Fish, Cat

The Myth

Nuegyo is a strange and unsettling fish said to appear in the seas off the coast of Japan. Those who encountered it did not recognize it as any known creature of the ocean, and even experienced fishermen were unable to name it.

The Nuegyo is said to be about the length of a man’s forearm. Its skin is rough, like that of a shark, while its head resembles that of a cat. Atop its head rests a hard, bowl-shaped mass, like stone. Its nose and mouth are also catlike, and from both sides of its jaw protrude sharp, bone-like spines several inches long. A thin spine rises from the top of its head, giving it an even more unnatural appearance.

Its body is shaped somewhat like that of a gurnard, but its fins are long and soft, extending all the way toward the tail. These fins are wide and flexible, like the wings of a bat. When spread open, they form a fan-like shape. It is said that the Nuegyo can use these fins as wings, rising above the surface of the sea and gliding through the air.

Because of its bizarre combination of features—part fish, part beast, and capable of flight—people began to call it Nuegyo, likening it to the legendary Nue, a creature made of mismatched forms. Whether it truly flies or merely skims the waves is unknown, but the Nuegyo is remembered as a sea being that does not fully belong to water or sky, and whose appearance defies ordinary understanding.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 座敷童子 (Zashiki-warashi). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654392.html

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Senzanri

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Thousand Mountain Carp
Category: Fish, Mountain dweller, Carp

The Myth

The Senzanri is a strange and transformative carp, said to be capable of leaving the water and becoming a creature of the mountains.

According to the story, a boy named Torakichi spoke of this being from his own experience. He said that when certain substances were mixed into water or shaped like fish and placed in old ponds, crucian carp would appear in great numbers. These carp were not ordinary fish. Among them were those that would later become Senzanri, carp that transform and give birth after leaving the water.

It is commonly said that carp climb waterfalls and become dragons, but Torakichi explained that this belief misunderstands what truly happens. The carp do not become dragons. Instead, using the force they gather while leaping up waterfalls, they launch themselves into the mountains. There, far from rivers and ponds, the transformation begins.

Once on land, the carp rolls about in grassy places. As time passes, its body becomes rounder and harder, forming a shell. Hair grows between its scales. Its fins change into four limbs, and the creature begins to crawl like a land animal. Though its shape changes, its inner body remains that of a carp.

In this form, the Senzanri lives in mountain pools, where it gives birth to offspring known as mountain-burrowing carp. These young inherit the strange nature of their parent, belonging neither fully to water nor to land.

The Senzanri is thus a creature that bridges worlds: born as a fish, transformed by the mountains, and living a life hidden from ordinary human sight.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 雪女 (Yuki-onna). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654386.html

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Ran Yi Fish

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Tradition / Region: Chinese mythology
Category: Fish, Mountain dweller

The Myth

The Ran Yi fish lives in the Wan River, which flows from Yingdi Mountain. This mountain is unlike any other: its slopes are thick with lacquer trees, metal ores and jade lie at its base, and all the birds and beasts that dwell there are said to be entirely white. From this place the Wan River rises and runs northward into Lingyang Marsh, and within its waters the Ran Yi fish can be found.

The Ran Yi fish has a fish’s body, but its head is that of a snake, and from its sides grow six legs. Its eyes resemble the ears of a horse, giving it a strange and unsettling appearance. Though it moves through water like a fish, its form marks it as something unnatural and powerful.

People believe that eating the Ran Yi fish brings protection. Those who consume it are said to be free from nightmares, untouched by disturbing dreams, and shielded from evil influences. Because of this, the Ran Yi fish is regarded not as a threat, but as a creature of warding and spiritual defense.

It remains hidden in the waters of the Wan River, tied to the strange mountain where white creatures roam and precious substances lie buried, a guardian presence within an uncanny landscape.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 冷遺魚. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%86%89%E9%81%97%E9%B1%BC

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Wangyu Fish

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Tradition / Region: Chinese mythology
Alternate Names: Wuyu Kuai, Wu Wang Kuaiyu, Kuaican
Category: Fish

The Myth

The Wangyu fish is a strange and sorrowful creature, known for having only half a body. Legend says that long ago, during the time of the Kingdom of Wu, a king—most often named King Helü, though some say it was King Sun Li—was eating a fish and left it unfinished. Displeased or careless, he cast the remaining half into the water. From this act, the fish did not die, but instead transformed, becoming the Wangyu fish, forever incomplete.

Because of this origin, the Wangyu swims through the water as a half-bodied being, a living reminder of abandonment and loss. It is said to dwell in city ponds and enclosed waters rather than open rivers or seas.

One tale tells of a Wangyu fish living in a pond within the eastern city. When the pond burst and the water drained away, the fish was left stranded and close to death, unable to escape on its own. A person nearby held up a mirror, allowing the fish to see its own reflection in the water’s surface. Mistaking its reflection for another of its kind, the Wangyu believed it had found a companion. Encouraged by the sight of what it thought was its missing half, the fish gathered its strength and leapt away, escaping side by side with its reflected image.

Thus, the Wangyu fish survives not through strength, but through illusion—forever seeking wholeness, even if only in reflection.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 王鬱魚. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%8B%E9%A6%80%E9%B1%BC

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Lingyu

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Tradition / Region: Chinese mythology
Category: Fish

The Myth

Lingyu is a strange fish of the sea, known for its human-like face and barbels shaped like hands. Its body moves through the water like an ordinary fish, yet its features mark it as something far from natural.

Lingyu lives in the sea near Lieguye Mountain, appearing and disappearing among the waves. When it emerges, the sea does not remain calm. It is said that whenever Lingyu appears, violent winds rise and storms suddenly break out, churning the water and darkening the sky.

Because of this, Lingyu is feared as an omen of chaos and upheaval. Sailors and coastal people believe its presence signals danger, and its human face is seen as a warning rather than a comfort.

Lingyu does not attack ships or people directly. Instead, it moves the sea itself, bringing sudden storms as it travels, leaving destruction in its wake before vanishing again into the depths.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 陸魚. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%B5%E9%B1%BC

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