Fish

Loðsilungur

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Tradition / Region: Icelandic folklore
Alternate Names: Shaggy Trout
Category: Fish, Trout

The Myth

The Loðsilungur, or Shaggy Trout, is feared throughout Iceland as one of the most deadly fish to dwell in lakes and rivers. Any person who eats its flesh is said to fall violently ill, and death often follows.

At first glance, the loðsilungur resembles an ordinary trout, but its body is twisted and unpleasant to look upon. Its shape is uneven, with a thick front and a narrow tail. The eyes are small and sunken, set beneath a swollen skull, and its short snout juts forward with a noticeable overbite. Its teeth are said to be black as pitch.

What truly marks the loðsilungur is its hair. Fine, pale, downy strands grow along its body, fins, jaw, and neck. Sometimes it appears as a beard; other times as a mane or scattered patches. This hair is difficult to see while the fish is alive, lying flat against the skin, and only becomes clearly visible after death—especially when the body is wet. Because of this, the loðsilungur is often mistaken for an edible trout, with fatal consequences.

The shaggy trout is usually small, sometimes no larger than an Arctic char, or even no thicker than a man’s finger. Despite its size, it carries powerful poison. Entire households have perished after sharing a single cooked loðsilungur. One well-known tale tells of a farm where all who ate the fish died, leaving only a young girl alive—she alone had not felt hungry that evening.

Other stories tell of hunters found dead beside their meals, plates still resting on their knees. Wherever the loðsilungur appears, tragedy follows.

Animals seem to sense the danger. Dogs and birds of prey refuse to eat it, no matter how hungry they are. The fish itself is stubbornly difficult to kill. Fishermen once left a pile of freshly caught fish overnight, only to find a loðsilungur still alive atop the heap by morning. Horrified, they threw the entire catch away and abandoned the lake.

The loðsilungur remains a warning hidden in clear water: a creature that looks harmless, but carries death beneath its skin.

Gallery

Sources

A Book of Creatures contributors. (n.d.). Lodsilungur. In A Book of Creatures, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2019/07/15/lodsilungur/

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Öfuguggi

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Tradition / Region: Icelandic folklore
Alternate Names: Reverse-Fin Trout
Category: Fish, Trout

The Myth

The Öfuguggi, known as the Reverse-Fin Trout, is one of the most feared fish in Icelandic lore. Its name alone carries dread, for the creature is said to be lethally poisonous, more dangerous than any ordinary fish of lake or river.

At first glance, the öfuguggi resembles a normal brown trout. Only on closer inspection does its true nature reveal itself. Its fins are reversed, and it swims backward, moving tail-first with its head following behind. Some say only a single fin is reversed, but this is enough to mark it as unnatural. Its body is jet-black, dark as coal, while its flesh is deep red, a sign that it feeds on the bodies of the drowned.

The öfuguggi lives in the cold depths of freshwater lakes, far from light. Though rarely seen, it is sometimes caught by unsuspecting fishermen. When cooked and eaten, it brings terrible death. Those who consume its flesh are said to swell violently, their bodies bloating until the stomach bursts, leaving a cross-shaped wound behind.

One of the most dreadful stories tells of a farm where nearly everyone who shared a meal of trout fell ill and died. Only one girl survived—the lone person who had eaten nothing.

Stories of the reverse-fin trout are known throughout Iceland, and certain lakes and pools bear names that warn of its presence. These places are remembered as cursed waters, where the öfuguggi once swam—or may still swim—waiting in the dark below.

The öfuguggi remains a symbol of hidden danger, a fish that looks ordinary yet carries death within, reminding people that not all that comes from clear water is safe to eat.

Gallery

Sources

A Book of Creatures contributors. (n.d.). Ofuguggi. In A Book of Creatures, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2019/05/13/ofuguggi/

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Quauhxouilin

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Tradition / Region: Mexican Mythology
Category: Fish, Eagle, Bird

The Myth

The Quauhxouilin, known as the Eagle-Fish, is a remarkable fish spoken of in Mexican tradition. Its name joins two ideas into one being: quauhtli, meaning eagle, and xouilin, a kind of fish.

This creature bears the head of an eagle, with a curved snout shining golden-yellow, giving it the look of a bird of prey risen from the water. Its body is long, large, and smooth, moving through the water with the same effortless grace as an eagle gliding through the sky.

Unlike ordinary fish, the Quauhxouilin has no scales and no bones. Its flesh is soft throughout, and for this reason it is considered good to eat, valued not only for its strange form but also for its taste.

The Quauhxouilin stands as a fusion of sky and water—a fish shaped like a bird, uniting the domains of river and air in a single living form.

Gallery

Sources

Bestiary.us contributors. (n.d.). Eterari. In Bestiary.us, from https://www.bestiary.us/eterari/

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Trebius Niger

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Tradition / Region: Roman Mythology, Medieval European Mythology
Category: Fish, Swordfish

The Myth

The Trebius Niger, or Black Trebius, is a strange and powerful fish known for defying the natural order of the sea. Though small—only about a foot long—it possesses abilities far beyond its size.

The Trebius can halt ships upon the water, clinging to their hulls and robbing them of all movement. Even the strongest vessel, once touched by it, becomes helpless, as if the sea itself has turned solid beneath it. Sailors fear its presence, for no oar or sail can overcome its grip.

The fish is said to change color with the seasons, turning black in summer and white in winter, marking the passage of time as clearly as the sky or the tides.

Most wondrous of all is its power over gold. If a Trebius is preserved in salt, even a small piece of it can be lowered into a deep well and will draw lost gold upward, as though the metal itself longs to return to the surface. For this reason, the fish is both coveted and dangerous, tempting the greedy while punishing the careless.

Unlike other fish, the Trebius does not scatter its eggs in water. Instead, it builds a nest, carefully constructing it before laying its eggs within. Some tales say it gathers seaweed for this purpose; others describe nests found in impossible places, even above the water, defying all expectation.

Later legends add that the Trebius is armed, bearing a sharp beak or pointed snout with which it can pierce ships, sinking them outright despite its small size. In some depictions it appears almost monstrous, with clawed feet, a bearded face, and a strange intelligence in its eyes.

Thus the Trebius Niger is remembered as a creature born of the sea but not bound by its rules:
a fish that stops ships, commands gold, builds nests like a bird, and carries ruin far greater than its form suggests.

Gallery

Sources

A Book of Creatures contributors. (n.d.). Trebius. In A Book of Creatures, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2020/05/15/trebius/

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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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