Tradition: Icelandic Mythology
Alternative Names: Múshveli, Mousewhale
Category: Rat
The Myth
The Múshveli, meaning “mousewhale,” is a monstrous sea creature in Icelandic folklore. It belongs to the illhveli, or “evil whales,” a group of dangerous marine beasts believed to cause death and destruction. Despite sharing its name with the real chimaera fish (Chimaera monstrosa), also known as the ratfish or rabbitfish, the legendary Múshveli is an enormous and highly aggressive monster. It is inedible and feared by sailors for its destructive behaviour.
Múshvelis are said to exceed ten metres in length and have an unusual appearance dominated by an enormous, deeply split mouth, prominent ears resembling sails, and a long, whip-like tail without a fin. Their bodies are light grey or brownish-black, and instead of ordinary fins they possess two short, hoofed legs. Their mouths are large enough to swallow a small rowboat whole, while their powerful tails propel them through the water at terrifying speed, churning the sea ahead of them.
These monsters attack vessels by ramming them or rising from the water and pressing their feet against the gunwales until the boats capsize. Sailors who encounter a Múshveli are advised to flee towards shore and seek higher ground, as the creatures can crawl onto beaches with their stubby legs, although they soon struggle outside the water. One account describes a Múshveli pursuing sailors onto land and shrugging off three bullets before retreating with the next high tide.
Large ships are generally better able to withstand their attacks. In one tale, two Icelandic fishermen were saved when a French fishing schooner deliberately intercepted a Múshveli charging towards their small boat. The monster struck the schooner with such force that the vessel listed heavily, but it remained afloat. While the sea monster continued attacking the larger ship, the Icelandic fishermen were rescued. Eventually, the Múshveli abandoned its assault and disappeared beneath the waves.
Sources
“Múshveli.” A Book of Creatures. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/03/mushveli/