Himapandara
In Hinduism, Himapandra, or 'Snow Palace', is the guardian of the northern part of the world, and mount of the treasure-king Kubera. Along with the rest of the Locapalas, he bears the world from atop the tortoise Akupara, guarded by the world serpent.

Werewolf
A word made from the Old English man-wolf, a wereanimal has firmly stuck itself into mystical language as a lycanthrope, the most common being the werewolf, a man turning into a wolf by the light of the full moon.

Hordshyrde
Hordshyrde (literally Guardian of the Hoard) was a great fire-drake from both Norse and British lore. Seeking vengeance for a stolen goblet, it torched the countryside where Beowulf reigned. Beowulf slew the dragon, but was mortally poisoned.

Mermaid
Mermaids have been in legend and lore for at least 3000 years. They can have the alluring tendencies of the Siren, or bring luck, foretell or even cause disasters. Many stories are told of mermaids changing into humans or vice versa.

Beaver
The beaver has many legends spun around it, one of the greatest being in Algonquian lore, where it was one of four sacred beings sent to return a soil granule for Manabusch to recreate the world with, after a destructive flood.

Ea
In the lore of Babylon and Mesopotamia, Ea was one of the creator gods, along with Anu and Enlil. They created mankind, though Ea has stronger bonds to the seas he rules, and is seen as a human, fish, or in between. He's also titled 'Stag of the Abzu'.

Hayagriva
Hayagriva, also called Tamdrin, is the Tibetian protector of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and one of the Dharmapalas protecting the teachings of Buddhism , Tibet and horses. In Hinduism, Hayagriva is an opponent of the gods.

Dheeyabery
According to the Australian Kamilaroi people, the Dheeyabery was likely the most bizarre creature in existence. They're savage creatures, and though they look like normal humans seen from the front, their backs are huge masses of unformed flesh.

Valaha
Valaha is the name of the giant horse king in Tibetan buddhist lore. He can fly through the air, and rides moonbeams to land on the Earth. This was the form taken by divine beings reincarnated as Dalai Lama, for instance to show virtue and good.

Mudo
Mudo is a great potoo living in the sixth heaven, along with Hohottu and Tawadi, another pair of birds. This according to the Makiritare people living in the Guyanan highlands in Venezuela.

Kwamang-a
Kwamang-a is according to the natives of the Kalahari the spirit of the rainbow. He has no known shape. Married to Porcupine, he fathered Ichneumon, the mongoose. He repeatedly lost shoes, which Mantis used to create things like the Eland and the moon.

Charadrius
The white polder Charadrius is, according to christian lore, an incarnation of Christ where he is sinless. It has predicative and healing abilities; It will draw disease out of a person and fly with its residue to melt it in the sun.

Kelpie
The wails of the Celtic water horse warns of storms, and its tail makes a crash like thunder. It lives in rivers, and will gladly scare a lonely traveller to death, or lure it to a watery grave.

Fei Lian
The wind lord Fei Lian is a celestial creature who keeps the winds within a bag. After attempting to usurp power from the ruling deity Huang Di, he was exiled to a mountain cavern.

Aitvaras
This Lithuanian dragon will usually be brought home unknowingly as a black cat or cockerel. The Aitvaras will bring its owner wealth in return for omelettes. However, this wealth is oft taken from neighbours, and it will over time take its owners' souls.

Aigamuxa
According to Khosian lore, the Aigamuxa inhabit the Kalahari desert. These man-eating ogres are huge, sharp-toothed and stupid, and their eyes are placed under their heels, forcing them to lift their feet high to see where they walk.

Hakenmann
According to German folklore, along the country's coast lives a large fish with a man's head, the Hakenmann. It protects its territory ferociously, even from humans.

Peacock
The peacock has taken a prominent role in stories everywhere it has been encountered or introduced, which is not surprising considering its eye-catching appearance. What this bird signifies varies wildly from place to place.

Tanngniortr & Tanngrisnir
According to Norse lore, these two goats pulled the chariot of Tor across the skies. Their names mean tooth-gnasher and tooth-grinder. It is said that one of them got its thigh bone broken by a farmer's son.

Wiwilemek
This Canadian water monster may resemble a crocodile, but its great horns hold great power, giving anyone scraping off part of them courage and magic.