Lizard

Moko

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Tradition: Cook Islands Mythology
Alternative Names: Moko
Category: Lizard

The Myth

Moko is a cunning and resourceful figure in the mythology of Mangaia, an island in the Cook Islands. He is regarded as the ruler or king of the lizards and is also the grandfather of Ngaru, a heroic figure in Mangaian tradition. Through his cleverness and command over his reptilian subjects, Moko plays a role in the island’s supernatural tales.

In one story, Moko orders his lizard subjects to climb into the basket belonging to Amai-te-rangi, a demon of the sky, so they can spy on him. When Amai-te-rangi pulls the basket up into the heavens, he expects to find something worthwhile but discovers it filled with miserable little reptiles instead. The lizards escape from the basket and overrun his home in the sky, turning Moko’s scheme into a troublesome surprise for the demon.

Sources

“Moko (Mythology).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moko_(mythology)

Loch Ness Monster

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Tradition: Scottish Mythology
Alternative Names: Nessie, Uilebheist Loch Nis
Category: Lizard

The Myth

The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, is a mysterious creature said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is most often described as a large animal with a long neck and one or more humps protruding above the water. Reports of the creature became internationally famous in 1933, when accounts of sightings attracted widespread attention. Since then, numerous witnesses have claimed to see something unusual in the loch, although photographs and sonar readings presented as evidence have remained disputed.

One of the earliest stories associated with Nessie dates to the sixth century and concerns Saint Columba, an Irish monk who travelled among the Picts. According to the account, Columba encountered people burying a man who had been attacked by a water beast in the River Ness. When one of Columba’s companions entered the river, the creature approached him. Columba made the sign of the cross and commanded the beast to retreat. It immediately stopped, turned away, and disappeared beneath the water. The people present interpreted the event as a miracle, and the story later became associated with the Loch Ness Monster, although the original encounter took place in the river rather than the loch.

Nessie has become one of Scotland’s best-known legendary creatures, inspiring generations of sightings and speculation. Some believe the stories preserve evidence of an unknown aquatic animal, while skeptics attribute the reports to misidentified wildlife, floating objects, optical illusions, hoaxes, or mistaken observations. The connection between Saint Columba’s water beast and the modern monster legend is also disputed, since stories of dangerous water creatures were common in medieval religious narratives. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, Nessie remains an enduring figure of Scottish mythology and a symbol of the mysteries associated with Loch Ness.

Sources

“Loch Ness Monster.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness_Monster

Ajaju

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Tradition: Indian Mythology
Alternative Names: Ajaju
Category: Lizard

The Myth

The Ajaju is a terrifying carnivorous creature feared by the Garo people of Achik Asong and Dura Hill in the Garo Hills of India. It resembles a chameleon, but has unusually long legs without knees, resembling smooth bamboo stalks without joints. Its head may look like that of a human or a chameleon. Its most horrifying feature is its twelve long, sharp, forked tongues, which are extremely flexible and used to capture prey and strip away their flesh and blood.

The Ajaju moves effortlessly through trees, swinging from branch to branch, but struggles to move across the ground. Chasing someone downhill is nearly impossible for it, yet those fleeing uphill have little chance of escape. Its long, sickle-like tongues can reach and seize them, swallowing their bodies and stripping away their flesh and blood until only a few bones remain. The creature then spits out these bones in disgust.

To lure victims, the Ajaju calls in a shrill voice, repeating “wa-o, wa-o, wa-o.” If someone answers, it continues calling and approaches with each repetition. Those entering its territory are therefore advised to call out in a high-pitched voice themselves. If the Ajaju answers, they must remain silent and flee as far as possible rather than responding again.

Despite its terrifying reputation, the Ajaju is also associated with powerful medicinal properties. Its body parts are believed to have great healing value, including the extraordinary ability to replace missing bones when resurrecting someone. One account claims that Ajaju remains were obtained from Rongkugiri after several creatures were killed there decades ago.

Sources

“Ajaju.” A Book of Creatures, February 12, 2021. https://abookofcreatures.com/2021/02/12/ajaju/

Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu

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Tradition: Congolese Mythology
Alternative Names: Animal with Planks Growing Out of Its Back
Category: Lizard

The Myth

Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu is a mysterious aquatic creature reportedly sighted in the Likouala River and the surrounding rivers and lakes of the Likouala-Mossaka region of the Republic of the Congo. Its name means “the animal with planks growing out of its back,” referring to its most distinctive feature: a series of green, plank-like structures protruding from its back. Its complete appearance remains uncertain, and descriptions of the creature have not reached a consistent form.

The creature is said to spend much of its time submerged, with only its back visible above the water. Its protruding structures are often described as green, sometimes appearing covered in algae. Reports suggest that it is most active during the afternoon, when it may be seen moving through rivers and lakes before disappearing beneath the surface again.

Some have compared Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu to a surviving stegosaur, imagining that the structures on its back resemble the plates of prehistoric dinosaurs. Others have drawn similarities to the African cryptid Nguma-monene or suggested that it might be another form of Mokele-mbembe, although the latter is not usually described as having plates along its back. The creature remains an unconfirmed mystery associated with the waterways of Central Africa.

Sources

“Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu

Tatzelwurm

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Tradition: German Mythology
Alternative Names: Stollenwurm, Stollwurm, Bergstutz, Springwurm, Praatzelwurm, Arassas
Category: Lizard

The Myth

The Tatzelwurm is a mysterious, lizard-like dragon said to inhabit the Alps of south-central Europe. It is described as having the face of a cat and a serpent-like body, which may be either slender or short and thick. Accounts vary considerably in size, with reported lengths ranging from around one to seven feet. Some descriptions give it four short legs, while others describe only two forelegs and no hindlimbs, or even six legs. Its cat-like face is particularly prominent in Swiss accounts, giving the creature an unusual appearance that combines features of mammals and reptiles.

The Tatzelwurm is often portrayed as dangerous. In Austrian and Bavarian traditions, it is said to possess poisonous breath that can even be fatal, while Swiss accounts similarly describe the related Stollenwurm as venomous. Like other European dragons associated with poison, it may attack with toxic breath. The creature is also known for its unsettling sounds, which include high-pitched shrieks, whistles, and hissing noises. Stories of encounters have been reported across the Austrian, Bavarian, French, Italian, and Swiss Alps, with related traditions also appearing in southern Sweden.

Descriptions of mountain dragons resembling the Tatzelwurm appear in accounts from the seventeenth century. In Switzerland, reports of strange dragons from the Sarganserland region were recorded around 1660, and later writers reproduced illustrations of these creatures. Although these early accounts were not originally all known by the name Tatzelwurm, later commentators associated them with the Alpine monster. The creature remains one of the region’s best-known legendary reptiles, feared for its strange appearance, venomous nature, and eerie cries.

Sources

“Tatzelwurm.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatzelwurm

Morag

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Tradition: Scottish Mythology
Alternative Names: Mòrag, Loch Morar Monster
Category: Lizard

The Myth

Morag is a legendary monster believed to inhabit Loch Morar in the Scottish Highlands. Its name is a play on the Scottish female name Mòrag and the name of the loch itself. Among Scotland’s famous lake monsters, Morag is one of the most frequently discussed after Nessie, the monster associated with Loch Ness. Reported sightings date back to 1887, and by 1981, 34 incidents had been recorded, sixteen of which reportedly involved multiple witnesses.

One of the best-known encounters occurred in August 1969, when two local men, Duncan McDonell and William Simpson, claimed that their boat had accidentally struck the creature. According to their account, Morag reacted aggressively and attacked them. McDonell attempted to defend himself with an oar, while Simpson fired his rifle at the monster. They claimed that it then sank slowly beneath the water and disappeared.

The men described Morag as a brown creature measuring approximately 25–30 feet (7.6–9.1 metres) long, with rough skin and three dorsal humps rising around 18 inches (46 centimetres) above the surface. Its head was reportedly about a foot wide and held approximately 18 inches above the water. Despite the reported encounters, Morag remains an unconfirmed lake monster associated with the mysterious depths of Loch Morar.

Sources

“Morag (Lake Monster).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morag_(lake_monster)

Ix-Hunpedzkin

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Tradition: Maya Mythology, Guatemala Mythology
Alternative Names: Mayan Beaded Lizard, Hunpedzkin
Category: Lizard

The Myth

The Ix-hunpedzkin is a small, colourful lizard feared in Yucatec Maya folklore for its supposedly deadly poison. It is described as measuring around three to four inches long, with black, rose-coloured, and ash-grey bands across its body and a pink underbelly. Although real beaded lizards are sluggish animals with venomous bites, traditional accounts greatly exaggerate the creature’s poisonous nature, claiming that its entire body is dangerously toxic.

According to these stories, the Ix-hunpedzkin can strike with both its mouth and its tail. Its poison is so potent that merely touching a person’s clothing can supposedly kill a grown man. The lizard is also said to enter houses and come into contact with people. Its most feared ability is to cause severe, debilitating headaches by biting the shadow of a person’s head. Unless treated immediately, these headaches are believed to be fatal.

A special plant called hunpedzkin or hunpedzkin-ak is used as a remedy for these headaches. The plant is described as a climber that grows alongside Sabal japa, with long, narrow, yellow leaves resembling those of the henequen plant, but smaller and bearing soft spines. It is probably a type of Tillandsia. To prepare the remedy, its leaves are crushed or burned into ashes, then made into a poultice and applied to the afflicted person’s head.

Sources

“Ix-hunpedzkin.” A Book of Creatures, May 12, 2017. https://abookofcreatures.com/2017/05/12/ix-hunpedzkin/

Valciero

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Tradition: Taiwanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Valcierro, Executioner of Flies
Category: Lizard

The Myth

The Valciero is a lizard-like creature described as an animal native to Formosa, the historical European name for Taiwan. Its skin is said to be as smooth and beautiful as glass, and it can change colour depending on the situation. The creature is particularly known for its relentless pursuit of flies, earning it the name “Executioner of Flies.”

Whenever flies approach a table, a piece of meat, or a drink, the Valciero eagerly chases them and invariably catches them. Its behaviour makes it a natural enemy of flies, protecting food and drink from these troublesome insects. According to the account, creatures of this kind are found only in Formosa, Japan, and America, and are unknown in England.

The Valciero appears in a description of Formosan animals attributed to Georges Psalmanazar, an eighteenth-century impostor who fabricated accounts of Taiwan and its inhabitants. His writings presented an imagined Formosa with its own customs, animals, and history, making the Valciero part of a fictional portrayal of the island rather than a reliably documented Taiwanese animal.

Sources

“Valchiero.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1084131596.html

Momi

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Fimi, Great Gecko
Category: Lizard

The Myth

Momi is a strange gecko said to inhabit the grassy mountain slopes of Mount Ani in Japan. According to the account, it is attracted to human sexual fluids and may attach itself to the genitals of anyone who falls asleep in the mountains, regardless of gender. Its four legs stimulate the victim, causing intense pleasure until the person releases sexual fluids, which the creature quickly absorbs as nourishment. Those affected are said to suffer from fujō, a state of physical and mental weakness attributed to excessive sexual activity. To protect themselves, travellers entering the mountains would tightly secure their loincloths and other clothing around their groins.

Similar creatures were reportedly known in the Kiso Mountains, where a related type of large gecko was associated with traditional medicinal practices. It was described as a substance used to nourish and strengthen the body. Another tale tells of a medicine seller who collected dozens of these geckos and brought them home, mixing them with an aromatic substance known for its aphrodisiac effects. When someone playfully used the mixture as a theatrical prop in Sakai-chō, its scent supposedly captivated nearby women, changing their expressions and complexions. The effect was compared to that of an exotic incense imported through the Nanban trade.

Sources

“Momi.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1066524415.html

Imori

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 守宮, Yamori
Category: Lizard

The Myth

Imori are supernatural newts believed to be the transformed spirits of warriors who died in battle. They haunt abandoned castle ruins and ancient battlegrounds where they lost their lives, attacking and harassing those who trespass upon their forgotten territory. Although they appear as small amphibians, they retain the hostility of the dead warriors and their former lords.

One legend tells of Jingai Shuso, a monk who lived as a hermit in the mountains of Echizen Province. While reading near the ruins of Yu no O Castle, he encountered a tiny man dressed in black who became furious when the monk ignored him. After Jingai brushed the little figure away with his fan, the stranger threatened revenge. Soon, thousands of tiny warriors armed with canes swarmed around the monk, beating him and threatening to cut off his limbs. Their generals eventually allowed Jingai to escape after he apologized for his rudeness.

The following day, Jingai investigated the castle ruins and discovered a deep hole filled with more than twenty thousand newts. At the bottom was an enormous specimen, about twelve inches long, which he recognized as the warriors’ general. Local elders explained that the castle had been destroyed in battle long ago and that the souls of its fallen warriors and their lord haunted the remains of an old well, causing mischief throughout the area. Jingai chanted Buddhist sutras until the newts died, then gathered their bodies with the villagers, cremated them, and buried their remains beneath a proper grave. The burial finally gave the forgotten warriors a resting place.

Sources

“Imori.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/imori/