20 Magical & Terrifying Creatures from Mexican Mythology

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Mexican folklore expert Sydney Bermudez shares her favorite creatures from Mexican folklore

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 El Chupacabra

2 La Llorona

3 Cadejo

4 El Charro Negro

5 La Lechuza

6 Alux

7 Dzulúm

8 La Tisigua

9 Nahual

10 Ahuízotl

11 Atotolin

12 Chaneque

13 Cipactli

14 Dtundtuncan

15 Tlahuelpuchi

16 Camazotz

17 Centlapachton

18 El Cucuy

19 Coo Ñu’un

20 Quinametzin

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Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: March 6, 2026 Fact Checked

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Mexico is a country filled with rich culture. Because the land is home to many ancient civilizations, it’s no surprise that there are tons of cool mythical creatures in the country’s folklore. We interviewed a Mexican folklore expert to teach you about some of Mexico’s most fascinating (and frightening) mythical creatures. Prepare to be spooked!

Mythical Creatures from Mexico

Mexican folklore expert Sydney Bermudez says that La Llorona, the spirit of a woman who drowned her children, is a popular myth in Mexico. Other popular mythical creatures include El Chupacabra, a creature that drains the blood of livestock, and the nahuales, shapeshifting witches who turn into jaguars.

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1

El Chupacabra

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1. El Chupacabra is a mysterious creature that feasts on blood. El Chupacabra (or “Goat Sucker”) is a legendary monster that is said to terrorize Mexico and Central America. In some versions, it is described as a bipedal, reptilian creature, and in others, it resembles a mangy, hairless dog. El Chupacabra is said to attack and drain the blood of livestock.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Sydney Bermudez is a Mexican folklore and urban legends expert who posts content about paranormal cases, internet mysteries, and psychological horror on social media. She has over 12 million likes on TikTok.
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2

La Llorona

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1. La Llorona is a vengeful, weeping ghost. In Mexican folklore, La Llorona (also known as the Crying Woman, the Weeping Woman, or the Wailer) is the spirit of a woman who drowned her children in a jealous rage after she discovered her husband was cheating on her. Bermudez says that when La Llorona realized what she had done, she drowned herself, as well. Now, her spirit roams near bodies of water, crying for her children. If you hear her crying, you’d better watch out, as it’s said you’ll suffer misfortune or even die.

   • In some versions of the myth, La Llorona kidnaps children. Parents warn their children that La Llorona will get them as a way to make them behave.
   • Bermudez adds that in another version of the story, La Llorona lures men to the water to drown them.
   • La Llorona is often considered one of the scariest mythical creatures in the world!

3

Cadejo

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1. The cadejo is a ghostly dog. In Mexican and Central American folklore, cadejos are spirits that appear as dogs. When they’re angry, they have red eyes, and when they’re calm, they have blue eyes. According to some stories, white cadejos protect travelers from harm, while black cadejos try to kill them. They’re said to appear on isolated roads at night.
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4

El Charro Negro

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1. El Charro Negro is a ghost who rides a black horse. According to Bermudez, El Charro Negro is described as a very handsome man who wears a sombrero. He appears on dark roads at night and plays tricks on travelers. In some versions of the tale, misfortune falls upon anyone who meets him, while in other versions, he collects the souls of those who have made a deal with the devil.

5

La Lechuza

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1. La Lechuza is a witch who shapeshifts into an owl. La Lechuza is a mythical figure from South Texas and Mexico. According to legend, she is a bruja (witch) who transforms into a large owl with the face of a woman. She haunts rural areas, seeking revenge on those who wronged her. She is said to lure her victims in with her cries.

   • Want more scary urban legends? Check out our “Mexican Urban Legends” article!
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6

Alux

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1. An alux is a sprite from Mayan mythology. An alux (plural aluxo’ob) is a small, elf-like creature that lives in the forests and caves of the Yucatán Peninsula. They’re usually invisible, but may appear to humans to communicate or play tricks on them. If you manage to get on their good side, they will protect you and bring you good luck.

7

Dzulúm

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1. The dzulúm is a mythical jaguar from Mayan folklore. The dzulúm is said to appear as a large, white, long-haired jaguar. It lures women away, never to be seen again. Some say it kills them, while others say the women make a pact with the dzulúm to abandon their souls and become witches.
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8

La Tisigua

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1. La Tisigua is a shapeshifting spirit that preys upon men. In Central American and Mexican folklore, La Tisigua is a shapeshifting, seductive spirit who appears as a beautiful, long-haired woman. She uses her beauty to lure men to a secluded area, where she reveals her true face—either a skull or the head of a horse, depending on the legend. Her victims either die of fear or are driven mad by the sight.

9

Nahual

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1. A nahual is a witch who can shapeshift into different animals. Bermudez says that nahuales are shapeshifters similar to Native American skinwalkers. Most notably, they’re able to transform into jaguars and black dogs. Nahuales are believed to be witches or sorcerers who use their powers for evil purposes. The legend originated from Aztec mythology.
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10

Ahuízotl

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1. The ahuízotl is an aquatic creature from Aztec mythology. It is described as being the size of a small dog with waterproof fur and the hands of a monkey. According to legend, the ahuízotl is the guardian of lakes, whose purpose is to protect the fish inside. When people get too close to the water’s edge, the ahuízotl snatches them and drags them to their watery death.

11

Atotolin

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1. Atotolin is a bird king from Aztec mythology. Often described as a large yellow bird with human arms, Atotolin was believed to be the leader of all birds. According to legend, if hunters could not find the bird within 4 days of starting their hunt, the Atotolin would sing, creating strong winds that would sink the hunters’ canoes and stop their hearts.
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12

Chaneque

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1. The chaneque are mischievous nature spirits. In Mexican and Mesoamerican folklore, chaneques are child-sized spirits believed to guard forests, rivers, and wildlife. They’re said to trick travelers, hide items, and even steal souls. They look like children with old, wrinkly faces, though they can also shapeshift into animals or plants.

13

Cipactli

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1. Cipactli is a sea monster from Aztec mythology. This primordial sea monster is described as part crocodile, part fish, and part toad or frog. It is always hungry, and there are additional mouths on every joint of its body. According to legend, the gods Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl created the earth from Cipactli’s body.
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14

Dtundtuncan

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1. The Dtundtuncan is a bird of death from Mayan folklore. The Dtundtuncan is a mythical bird with only one leg and two empty black eye sockets. According to legend, it is a manifestation of the Kakasbal (a malevolent shapeshifting creature) and is believed to steal the breath of children. It flies at dusk and emits a horrible croaking sound.

15

Tlahuelpuchi

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1. The Tlahuelpuchi is a shapeshifting, blood-drinking witch. In Tlaxcalan and Nahua folklore, the Tlahuelpuchi is a type of vampire or witch that lives with its human family. At night, it shapeshifts and sucks the blood of infants. Tlahuelpuchi are born with their curse, which typically manifests around puberty. They’re able to shapeshift by detaching their body from their legs. Most Tlaheulpuchi are women.
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16

Camazotz

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1. Camazotz is a bat deity from Mayan mythology. Camazotz is often portrayed as an anthropomorphic leaf-nosed bat who symbolizes death and the underworld’s dangers. He dwells in the House of Bats in the Mayan underworld and is sometimes viewed as a Mesoamerican vampire.

17

Centlapachton

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1. The Centlapachton is a nocturnal ghost from Nahualt mythology. The Centlapachton appears as a small woman with long black hair, who waddles like a duck. At night, she waits in bathrooms to frighten men to death. If those who see her do not die of fright, they’ll suffer from great misfortune.
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18

El Cucuy

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1. El Cucuy is the Latin American equivalent of the boogeyman. Also known as Coco, El Cucuy is a terrifying creature said to hide under beds or in closets, waiting to snatch up children who misbehave. The legend originated in Spain and Portugal, but parents in Mexico and Latin America now use the story to frighten their children into behaving.

19

Coo Ñu’un

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1. Coo Ñu’un is a fiery snake from Oaxacan folklore. It has the body of a lobster and the head of a snake, and it is covered in feathers. Its tail is shaped like a wick, which shoots out flames when Coo Ñu’un catches on fire. It is said to feed on men’s desires and ambitions.
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20

Quinametzin

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1. The Quinametzin are a race of giants from Aztec mythology. According to the myth, the Quinametzin lived during the era of the Sun of Rain (Nahui-Quiahuitl) and built the pyramid of Cholula and the City of Teotihuacan. However, they did not worship the Aztec gods, so the gods ruined their civilization to punish them.

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