Tradition: Chilean Mythology
Alternative Names: —
Category: Goblin
The Myth
The Trauco is a small humanoid creature that inhabits the deep forests of Chiloé, an island in southern Chile. Resembling a dwarf or goblin, it has an ugly face and legs that end without feet. According to local mythology, it is the offspring of Coi Coi-Vilu, the powerful serpent deity. The Trauco is married to Fiura, a wicked and ugly supernatural being.
The Trauco possesses a powerful, supernatural magnetism that attracts young and middle-aged women. It carries a small hatchet with a stone head, which it uses to strike trees in the forest as a symbolic expression of its sexual potency. Its allure is said to be irresistible, and its victims are believed to be unable to resist its influence, even when asleep. Some men on Chiloé fear the creature because they believe that meeting its gaze can cause death.
The Trauco also features prominently in local explanations of unexpected pregnancies. When an unmarried woman becomes pregnant and no man acknowledges himself as the father, the community may attribute the pregnancy to the Trauco. Because the creature is considered irresistibly alluring, the woman is traditionally regarded as blameless. In this way, the legend provides a supernatural explanation for sudden or unwanted pregnancies, particularly among unmarried women.
The Trauco is therefore both a feared forest creature and a figure associated with sexual power and mysterious pregnancies. Its small stature and grotesque appearance contrast with the extraordinary influence it is believed to exert over human beings.
Sources
“Trauco.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trauco