Tradition: Brazilian Mythology
Alternative Names: Mapinguary, Kida harara, Kida so’emo, Owoj, Owojo, Juma
Category: Forest dweller
The Myth
The Mapinguari is a terrifying monster that roams the vast forests of the Amazon. It is often described as a gigantic, hairy, ape-like creature with long red, brown, or black fur and an extremely foul smell. Its body may be as large as a human or considerably bigger, and its face resembles that of a monkey. The creature has powerful claws like those of a jaguar and unusual feet that point backwards, sometimes resembling the hooves of a donkey. Some descriptions give it a hard, crocodile-like hide or a shell like that of a turtle, making its body extraordinarily difficult to injure. Its thick coat is said to protect it from bullets, leaving only its navel as a vulnerable spot.
The Mapinguari has several horrifying features that distinguish it from other forest monsters. In some accounts, it possesses a single enormous eye in the middle of its forehead, while others place the eye in its abdomen. Its mouth may stretch vertically from its face down to its stomach, creating a huge opening through which it devours its victims. The creature is a fearsome man-eater that may hide in the dim depths of the forest before suddenly charging at unsuspecting travellers. It announces its presence with a tremendous scream resembling a human cry or a peal of thunder. When it catches someone, it often begins by chewing the victim’s head slowly, although some stories describe it consuming the entire body piece by piece.
One tale tells of a rubber tapper who returned to his hut on a Sunday and discovered that the Mapinguari was devouring his companion. The monster had enormous, jaguar-like claws and a mouth extending from its face to its stomach. The encounter was remembered as a punishment for working on the Sabbath, while other stories warn that the creature deliberately hunts people who venture out on Sundays and holidays. The Mapinguari is not always portrayed as a flesh-eater, however, as some accounts describe it tearing down palm trees to feed on their tender hearts and fruits.
Some traditions claim that people who reach an exceptionally old age may transform into Mapinguari. Other stories describe the creature as a former shaman or an ancient ruler of the region who became a monstrous being. Whether it is a transformed human or a terrifying spirit of the wilderness, the Mapinguari remains a dreaded inhabitant of the Amazonian forests, feared for its overwhelming strength, horrible stench, strange body, and appetite for human flesh.
Sources
“Mapinguari.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapinguari