Tradition: Welsh Mythology
Alternative Names: Water Leaper
Category: Frog
The Myth
The Llamhigyn y Dŵr is a monstrous water spirit that inhabits lakes and other bodies of water in Wales, particularly around Llyn Gwynan and Llyn Glas. It resembles an enormous, grotesque toad, but instead of ordinary legs it has wings, and a long tail extends behind its body. It is a powerful swimmer and a dangerous predator that lurks beneath the water, waiting for unsuspecting prey to approach the shore.
The creature preys on sheep, dogs, and other animals that venture too close to the water’s edge. Shepherds know to keep their flocks away from the lakes, for the Water Leaper may suddenly spring from the water, seize an animal, and drag it beneath the surface. Its presence also torments fishermen, stealing their catches and taking bait directly from their hooks. Sometimes it seizes the entire fishing line, rod, and angler, pulling its victim into the lake with tremendous strength.
The Llamhigyn y Dŵr is known for its extraordinary speed and its terrifying shriek. One fisherman reportedly hooked the creature, only for it to emit an ear-splitting scream and nearly pull him from his boat. He escaped only because a companion was there to help him. Welsh fishermen regard the Water Leaper as a troublesome and dangerous inhabitant of their lakes, blaming it for lost fish, broken fishing lines, and unexplained disappearances near the water.
Sources
“Llamhigyn Y Dwr.” A Book of Creatures. July 1, 2015. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/01/llamhigyn-y-dwr/