* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Sate your hunger at DBA’s Taste of Downtown – Bakersfield.com

    Indulge Your Cravings at DBA’s Taste of Downtown!

    Caesars Entertainment (CZR): Assessing Valuation After Times Square Casino Setback and Mounting Investor Concerns – simplywall.st

    Caesars Entertainment Faces Times Square Casino Hurdles as Investor Concerns Mount

    Why Hilaria Baldwin Has Found the ‘DWTS’ Process ‘Embarrassing’ At Times – WFXG

    Hilaria Baldwin Opens Up About the Embarrassing Moments on Her ‘DWTS’ Journey

    Harvest Fest 2025 – yadkinripple.com

    Celebrate the Bounty: Harvest Fest 2025 is Coming!

    Fox News Entertainment Newsletter: Kate Middleton stuns during Trump state visit, Brett James dead at 57 – Fox News

    Kate Middleton Stuns During Trump State Visit; Remembering Brett James at 57

    Lara Beitz to headline Oshkosh show with top comedians at Time Community Theater Sept. 27 – Yahoo

    Lara Beitz to Headline Star-Studded Oshkosh Comedy Night on September 27

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    What are we really gaining from technology? – Fast Company

    What Are We Really Gaining from Technology?

    TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc. Expands SteraMist iHP Technology Services in Healthcare Sector with New Provider Partnership – Quiver Quantitative

    TOMI Environmental Solutions Accelerates SteraMist iHP Technology Expansion in Healthcare with New Provider Partnership

    Indiana County Technology Center’s Joint Operating Committee looks to the future as program plans began to take shape – Indiana Gazette Online

    Indiana County Technology Center’s Joint Operating Committee Charts an Exciting Path Forward as New Program Plans Take Shape

    Meta to expand Montgomery data hub, pushing total investment to $1.5 billion – Alabama Department of Commerce

    Meta to Supercharge Montgomery Data Hub with $1.5 Billion Investment

    Agentic AI and the future of work: navigating technological promise and the risk of increased automation – Equal Times

    Agentic AI and the Future of Work: Embracing Innovation While Navigating Automation Challenges

    Technology alliance introduces system for stable recycling quality – RECYCLING magazine

    Innovative Technology Alliance Unveils Breakthrough System for Consistent Recycling Quality

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Sate your hunger at DBA’s Taste of Downtown – Bakersfield.com

    Indulge Your Cravings at DBA’s Taste of Downtown!

    Caesars Entertainment (CZR): Assessing Valuation After Times Square Casino Setback and Mounting Investor Concerns – simplywall.st

    Caesars Entertainment Faces Times Square Casino Hurdles as Investor Concerns Mount

    Why Hilaria Baldwin Has Found the ‘DWTS’ Process ‘Embarrassing’ At Times – WFXG

    Hilaria Baldwin Opens Up About the Embarrassing Moments on Her ‘DWTS’ Journey

    Harvest Fest 2025 – yadkinripple.com

    Celebrate the Bounty: Harvest Fest 2025 is Coming!

    Fox News Entertainment Newsletter: Kate Middleton stuns during Trump state visit, Brett James dead at 57 – Fox News

    Kate Middleton Stuns During Trump State Visit; Remembering Brett James at 57

    Lara Beitz to headline Oshkosh show with top comedians at Time Community Theater Sept. 27 – Yahoo

    Lara Beitz to Headline Star-Studded Oshkosh Comedy Night on September 27

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    What are we really gaining from technology? – Fast Company

    What Are We Really Gaining from Technology?

    TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc. Expands SteraMist iHP Technology Services in Healthcare Sector with New Provider Partnership – Quiver Quantitative

    TOMI Environmental Solutions Accelerates SteraMist iHP Technology Expansion in Healthcare with New Provider Partnership

    Indiana County Technology Center’s Joint Operating Committee looks to the future as program plans began to take shape – Indiana Gazette Online

    Indiana County Technology Center’s Joint Operating Committee Charts an Exciting Path Forward as New Program Plans Take Shape

    Meta to expand Montgomery data hub, pushing total investment to $1.5 billion – Alabama Department of Commerce

    Meta to Supercharge Montgomery Data Hub with $1.5 Billion Investment

    Agentic AI and the future of work: navigating technological promise and the risk of increased automation – Equal Times

    Agentic AI and the Future of Work: Embracing Innovation While Navigating Automation Challenges

    Technology alliance introduces system for stable recycling quality – RECYCLING magazine

    Innovative Technology Alliance Unveils Breakthrough System for Consistent Recycling Quality

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

10 Lesser-Known Shapeshifter Legends from Around the World

July 11, 2024
in Science
10 Lesser-Known Shapeshifter Legends from Around the World
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ancient folklore from almost every world culture includes some version of a supernatural being who can transform from one form to another, known as a “shapeshifter.” One of the best examples is the legend of the werewolf. People from all ends of the earth are familiar with this dangerous, mythical beast that transforms from man to wolf by the light of a full moon.

Another well-known example is the Skinwalker, who comes from the lore of Native American tribes in the American Southwest. This version of the shapeshifter legend was born when a benevolent medicine man abused his Indigenous magic for evil and received the power to transform into an animal.

While all variations of this age-old legend are not as prominent as these two, they are equally captivating. Keep reading for 10 shapeshifter legends from around the world that most people haven’t heard of.

Related: 10 Urban Legends with Origins in True Crime

10 Sinister Sea Otters

Kushtaka: Alaskan Shapeshifter Scars Woman For Life | The Alaska Triangle

The legend of the “Kushtaka,” or “Kooshdakhaa,” comes from the Indigenous Tlingit and Tsimshian tribes located in northwestern Canada and southeastern Alaska. The deceptively cute cryptids appear as playful sea otters at sea but morph into men when they step foot on land. They often disguise themselves as “kinsmen,” so their victims won’t realize their true nature until it’s too late.

In certain instances, Kushtaka take the form of a friend or relative of anyone lost or injured in Alaska’s wilderness. Feigning good intentions, they lead the victims deeper into the wild, where they will tear them to pieces or, worse, make them into another Kushtaka, thereby trapping their souls and preventing them from reincarnating.

Groups of Kushtaka are considered particularly dangerous. They lure their victims toward them by screaming and making noises that sound like women or children in distress. Once they see you approaching, there is no escape. Lore names one safeguard against them, and that is man’s best friend. Kushtaka are deathly afraid of dogs. Luckily, many villages have sled dogs to protect them from harm. Fire is also said to keep them at bay.[1]

9 Unnatural Wildlife

MYSTERIOUS NAGUAL | Is There a Shaman In Mexico Who Transforms Into a Coyote?

The “Nagual,” or “Nahual,” is a shapeshifter legend from Indigenous cultures in Mesoamerica, which includes parts of Mexico and Central America. The term refers to someone who can transform into an animal—often a cougar, jaguar, or wolf. The creature’s background and traits vary by region, with some saying they are powerful sorcerers who transformed themselves to do evil. Others believe they are personal guardian spirits—those in between claim the individual’s personality determines the Nagual’s behavior.

Mesoamerican culture has long believed that every person has an animal counterpart, or spirit animal, tied to their life force, leading many to consider tonalism as the legend’s origin. People’s connections with their spirit animal vary greatly, with some sharing characteristics or talents with their animal, others who can control their animal’s abilities at will, and then those who can alter their whole shape to become their spirit animal. The latter are considered “true Naguals.”[2]

8 Wicked Hyenas

Werehyena: The Terrifying Shapeshifters of African Lore | Monstrum

Stories of the “Werehyena” are common in folklore from the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Near East, and adjacent territories. The mystical beasts can transform between a human and hyena form, whether as a hybrid of both or one or the other. In addition to shapeshifting abilities, they can control other hyenas and possess humans. Werehyenas are typically associated with witchcraft and sorcery and are considered a harbinger of bad luck and misfortune.

Each location adds its own attribute to the legendary creature. For example, in Somalia, the Werehyena must rub itself with a magical stick at sundown to transform. In Sudanese folklore, the creature is known for attacking lovers after dark. Morocco’s Werehyenas transform every night after sunset and return to human form at dawn.

Some believe the legend’s origins are a result of the long-time adversarial relationship between hyenas and humans that dates back to the earliest human presence in Africa: “For millennia, the nocturnal creatures have been known to converge in cackles at night, breaking into village huts, killing children, and ravaging livestock.”[3]

7 Supernatural Seals

Celtic Myths – The Selkies

“Selkies” are mythological beings from Irish, Scottish, Faroese, and Icelandic folklore. The affectionate and good-natured sea creatures undergo a full-bodied transformation when they come on land, shedding their skin to become a human for a short period. The legend claims that they must wait at least seven years to come back ashore once they return to their seal skin.

Selkies are typically portrayed as handsome men or beautiful women who play the role of predator or prey equally well. Some are said to come to shore solely for the pleasure of being human, but most legends of Selkies bear themes of a romantic tragedy. For example, many myths feature the male Selkie as a predator who seeks out lonely fisherman wives. Meanwhile, female Selkies will typically see their seal skin stolen, forcing them under the control of a human—often depicted as a forced marriage.

Experts trace the legend’s origins to a time when early Scottish settlers and shipwrecked Spaniards married dark-haired, fur-wearing Finnish and native Saami women.[4]

6 Mischievous Felines

71 | The Monster Cat – Japanese Urban Legend 14

The “Bakeneko” is a mythical creature from humble beginnings in Japanese folklore. Legends say Bakeneko, defined best as “Changing Cat,” started as an average house cat but changed as they got older. First, they started walking on their hind legs, growing to the size of a human, and gained powers—including the ability to change form and speak human languages.

In their human form, they appear as beautiful women with cat-like features. However, a Bakeneko’s favorite form to take is their owners or other familiar humans. They also possess the power to summon fireballs, use their tails as torches to set fires, control the dead, and curse (or kill) their previous owners.

Japanese lore also mentions the “Nekomata,” described as a Bakeneko’s powered-up evil cousin. Despite similar beginnings, the Nekomata are older and larger than the Bakeneko. After they change, Nekomata has two identical tails, which allows them to cause double the trouble. Scholars say the legends likely stemmed from seeing cats on their hind legs licking fish oil from lamps with “shining, anticipatory eyes.”[5]

5 Blood-Sucking Babies

Legend of Tiyanak – The Baby Vampire of Philippine Folklore

Philippine mythology tells of a vampiric shapeshifter called a “Tiyanak” that takes the form of a newborn baby or toddler. The creature uses its innocent appearance to lure unsuspecting passersby into the jungle, only transforming into its proper form once its victim picks it up. Tiyanaks typically appear with sharp claws, fangs, wrinkled skin, large noses, wide mouths, and fiercely bulging eyes that glow red.

They have piercing, sharp voices and a “soul-crushing cry” but are known best for their deceptive behavior. As the story goes, the demon child is nearby if their cries sound faint. But if the cry sounds loud, it is farther away. The word Tiyanak is derived from the words “mati” and “anak,” which translates to “dead child.”

A Mindanao legend suggests that Tiyanaks are the souls of children whose mothers died while giving birth, so they were left alone to become frightening demonic creatures. Other versions describe them as the souls of infants who died before being baptized. Lore names two ways to repel them: turning your clothes inside out or scaring them away with loud noises.[6]

4 Defender Sharks

The Deep End Episode 7: Shark Spirits, Hawaiian Legends

Sharks are one of the most sacred and revered creatures in Hawaiian culture, securing a spot in their mythology back to the first man on Earth (said to have come from a union between a human woman and a shark God). The legend of the “Aumakua” tells of shark shapeshifters who are said to be ancestors reincarnated as animals and sent to protect family members. Only one species can hold the title: the tiger shark.

One well-known legend featured a shark queen and guardian named Ka’ahupahau, who was responsible for protecting all men who entered the waters of Pu’uloa. One day, when a group of man-eating sharks entered the lochs of Pu’uloa, Ka’apahau transformed into a strong net to block the harbor entrance and keep the evil sharks from escaping. Her older brother, Kahi’uka, struck and beat them with his tail, so they landed out of the water and died.

Another legend told the story of Kanekua’ana, a shark guardian who provided the people of ‘Ewa with food during times of famine. The descendants of Kanekua’ana erected temples and offered sacrifices to receive her blessings- which typically consisted of oysters, shrimp, and anchovies.[7]

3 Undead Owls

The Stikini Owlman of Seminole Folklore

Indigenous Seminole folklore describes a grotesque “man-owl” hybrid called the “Stikini” that roams the forests of Oklahoma and swampy regions of New Jersey and Michigan. The Stikini appears as an ordinary human by day. At night, it morphs into an owl-like monstrosity that targets the most vulnerable prey—sleeping humans and children. The Stikini were originally believed to be evil witches who can transform into giant owl-like monsters. Hearing their cry is considered an omen of impending death.

Some legends claim Stikini are technically dead and have to constantly reanimate themselves by consuming human hearts, requiring one per night to stay alive. To start the transformation process, the Stikini vomits up its internal organs and hangs them in a tree or hides them to keep them safe. It becomes a great horned owl and flies to find a fresh victim.

When it finds one, the Stikini removes the (still-beating) heart from the human’s mouth and takes it back to its home, where it cooks the heart in an enchanted pot and eats it in secret. Then, before dawn, the Stikini returns to its organs, swallows them, and is turned back into a human. If the organs have been found and stolen, or if the Stikini is shot with a specially chosen and decorated arrow before it can consume them, it will die at sunrise.[8]

2 Seductive Dolphins

Brazil’s Enigma: The Hunt for the Encantado

The South American version of the shapeshifter is known as “Encantado.” With roots in the traditional beliefs of inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest, the Encantado, Brazilian Portuguese for “enchanted one,” can transform from a pink river dolphin into a human. One legend claims the Encantado transforms into a “tall, handsome, and elegantly dressed man” who ventures ashore at night to seduce the wives and daughters of Amazonian villages. After impregnating the woman, he disappears into the river by sunrise.

Another legend says the Encantado “will take lone swimmers… to the mystical underwater world of Encante, from which they can never return.” On the positive side, Encante is described as an Atlantis-like paradise, better than the natural world in every way. Some also consider the Encantado as a guardian for the vulnerable population of Amazonian manatees.

The pink river dolphin is most likely featured in the legend because they are considered sacred creatures. Killing one is thought to bring bad luck. Local fishermen believe even making direct eye contact with a river dolphin will unleash a lifetime of nightmares, “forever damning you to terrible dreams and nights of frightful dolphin-induced visions.”[9]

1 Vile Insects

Adze: the Shapeshifting Firefly from West Africa | Monstrum

The “Adze” is a shapeshifter that has been terrifying the Ewe people of West Africa for centuries. Taking the form of insects like flies, beetles, fireflies, mosquitos, and even balls of light, the Adze slips through keyholes, under windows, and around doors to prey on sleeping men, women, and children. They can shift from insects into quasi-humans—appearing as hunchbacked creatures with talons and jet-black skin.

Sometimes called the “Firefly Vampire of Africa,” the Adze evolved from a witch who harnessed dark powers through rituals and pacts with evil forces. The transformation granted the witch eternal life but “condemned it to an insatiable appetite for blood.” Adzes can drain a person of their life, possess them, or consign them to madness or misery.

No potion, spell, or weapon can fight them off, and there is no cure for their victims once bitten. But it’s possible to free someone from their possession. One method is to force the Adze out of its host and kill it in its quasi-human form. Another technique is to hold “deliverance sessions,” which include intensive prayer sessions and exorcisms. The legend’s origins likely served as an explanation and warning against malaria and other insect-borne diseases that the Ewe people faced around the 13th century.[10]

fact checked by
Darci Heikkinen

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Listverse – https://listverse.com/2024/07/11/10-lesser-known-shapeshifter-legends-from-around-the-world/

Tags: lesser-knownscienceShapeshifter
Previous Post

Restaurant Brands Re-Prioritize Digital Solutions in 2024

Next Post

10 Actors Dragged out of Retirement for One Key Role

Coyotes Hunt Harbor Seal Pups on the California Coast – Gerraty – 2025 – Ecology – ESA Journals

Coyotes on the California Coast: The Unexpected Pursuit of Harbor Seal Pups

September 25, 2025

Uncovering the Hidden Risks of Suicide Among Older Men: Pathways to a Safer Future

September 25, 2025
Science Hill High School’s Feed the Hungry Club lends a hand to the community – WJHL

Science Hill High School’s Feed the Hungry Club Makes a Big Impact in the Community

September 25, 2025
Jam Wars: How the Beckhams Quietly Outshined Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Ambitions – vocal.media

Jam Wars: How the Beckhams Quietly Outshined Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Aspirations

September 25, 2025
What are we really gaining from technology? – Fast Company

What Are We Really Gaining from Technology?

September 25, 2025
KSL Sports Rewind: High School Football 2025 Top 25 Rankings Entering Week 7 – KSL Sports

High School Football 2025: Top 25 Rankings Heading into Week 7

September 25, 2025
These rural communities feed the world. They’re also going hungry. – Investigate Midwest

Rural Communities That Nourish the World Are Now Battling Hunger Themselves

September 25, 2025
Investors Are So Confident in the Trump Economy They’re Turning to Gold – Vanity Fair

Soaring Gold Demand Fueled by Growing Investor Confidence in the Trump Economy

September 25, 2025
Sate your hunger at DBA’s Taste of Downtown – Bakersfield.com

Indulge Your Cravings at DBA’s Taste of Downtown!

September 25, 2025
6 groups vying to lead the charge on health AI standards – statnews.com

6 Key Groups Competing to Shape the Future of Health AI Standards

September 25, 2025

Categories

Archives

September 2025
MTWTFSS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930 
« Aug    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (836)
  • Economy (856)
  • Entertainment (21,732)
  • General (17,232)
  • Health (9,899)
  • Lifestyle (869)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (859)
  • Politics (866)
  • Science (16,066)
  • Sports (21,356)
  • Technology (15,839)
  • World (839)

Recent News

Coyotes Hunt Harbor Seal Pups on the California Coast – Gerraty – 2025 – Ecology – ESA Journals

Coyotes on the California Coast: The Unexpected Pursuit of Harbor Seal Pups

September 25, 2025

Uncovering the Hidden Risks of Suicide Among Older Men: Pathways to a Safer Future

September 25, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version