This list includes 18 Mythological creatures that start with I, from “Ichneumon” to “Iwana-bōzu”. They range from animal-like spirits to hybrid monsters and trickster beings. Writers, game designers, teachers, and researchers use it for quick reference and inspiration.
Mythological creatures are non-human beings from myths and folklore, including monsters, spirits, and legendary animals. The ichneumon, for example, appears in medieval bestiaries as a cunning mongoose-like hunter of serpents.
Below you’ll find the table with origin, description, and famous stories.
Origin: Shows the culture or region where each creature originates, so you can place it in historical and cultural context.
Description: Gives a concise twenty-to-forty-word summary of appearance, behavior, and powers to help you quickly understand each creature.
Famous stories: Lists one or two named myths, folktales, or literary works that feature the creature, useful for further reading or citation.
Mythological creatures that start with I
| Name | Origin | Alternate spellings | Famous stories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ichthyocentaur | Greek | Ichthyocentaurus | Depictions with Aphrodite; Zodiac of Pisces |
| Iele | Romanian | Ielele | Folktales about their hypnotic circle dances (hora) |
| Ifrit | Arabian | Efreet, Afreet | One Thousand and One Nights |
| Ijiraq | Inuit | Ijirait | Oral traditions of the Canadian Arctic |
| Iku-Turso | Finnish | Tursas | The Kalevala epic |
| Ikuchi | Japanese | — | Konjaku Hyakki Shūi by Toriyama Sekien |
| Imp | European | — | Folktales of imps as familiars to witches |
| Imugi | Korean | Imoogi | Folktales of Imugi trying to become dragons |
| Incubus | European | — | Medieval demonology texts like Malleus Maleficarum |
| Indrik | Russian | Indrik-Beast | The Dove Book (Golubinaya Kniga) |
| Inkanyamba | Zulu | — | Legends of the Howick Falls |
| Inugami | Japanese | Dog God | Tales of sorcerers (inugami-mochi) using them |
| Ipotane | Greek | — | Mentioned in writings by Pliny the Elder |
| Isonade | Japanese | — | Ehon Hyaku Monogatari |
| Itsumade | Japanese | — | The Taiheiki (Chronicle of Great Peace) |
| Ittan-momen | Japanese | — | Legends from Kagoshima Prefecture |
| Iwana-bōzu | Japanese | Char-Monk | Local legends of Yamagata Prefecture |
| Ichneumon | Medieval European | — | Medieval bestiaries (books of beasts) |
Descriptions
Ichthyocentaur
A creature with the upper body of a man, the forelegs of a horse, and the tail of a fish. Often depicted in art as sea-gods or attendants to other marine deities.
Iele
Mythical female fairies, similar to nymphs. They are beautiful, ethereal beings who can be benevolent but will punish any man who sees them dance in their sacred forest groves.
Ifrit
A powerful and cunning type of jinn (genie) in Islamic folklore. Often depicted as fiery, winged beings of immense strength, they can be either benevolent or malevolent.
Ijiraq
A shapeshifting creature that kidnaps children and hides them away. It can appear as a human or animal and can disorient hunters, causing them to get lost.
Iku-Turso
A malevolent sea monster, sometimes called “the eternal Turso.” It is described as a horned, bearded beast that rises from the sea to spread disease and chaos.
Ikuchi
A massive sea serpent (yōkai) so long that it can take days for its entire body to pass a ship. It drips a sticky oil that can swamp a boat if not constantly bailed.
Imp
A small, mischievous, and often malevolent creature from Germanic folklore. Imps are typically seen as lesser demons or familiars that serve witches and warlocks.
Imugi
A proto-dragon in Korean mythology, resembling a huge serpent. It is said that an Imugi must survive for 1,000 years before it can ascend to heaven and become a true dragon.
Incubus
A male demon from medieval legend believed to prey upon sleeping women. Its female counterpart is the succubus. They were often blamed for nightmares and unexplained pregnancies.
Indrik
A fantastic beast from Russian folklore, considered the “king of all animals.” It is described as a subterranean, unicorn-like creature whose movements cause earthquakes.
Inkanyamba
A legendary, eel-like creature with a horse-like head from Zulu and Xhosa folklore. It is a powerful weather spirit whose anger is said to cause violent storms.
Inugami
A dog spirit (kami or yōkai) summoned by a sorcerer for malicious purposes like curses or revenge. The Inugami is fiercely loyal but can also turn on its master.
Ipotane
A member of a race of half-horse, half-human creatures, similar to a centaur or satyr. Unlike satyrs with goat legs, Ipotanes possessed the hindquarters and legs of a horse.
Isonade
A monstrous, shark-like sea creature (yōkai) from Japanese folklore. It has a barbed tail which it uses to hook sailors from their boats and drag them into the sea to devour them.
Itsumade
A ghostly bird (onryō) with a human face and a snake-like body that appears over battlefields. It screeches “itsumade?” (“how long?”), lamenting the suffering of the dead.
Ittan-momen
A sentient, flying roll of cotton cloth (a type of tsukumogami or yōkai). It appears harmless but will wrap itself around a person’s head and face to smother them.
Iwana-bōzu
A yōkai from Japanese folklore, appearing as the disembodied head of a Buddhist monk that emerges from a mountain stream. It is believed to be the spirit of a large char fish (iwana).
Ichneumon
A legendary creature, based on the real mongoose, fabled to be the only mortal enemy of the dragon. It would cover itself in mud, slip down the dragon’s throat, and devour it from the inside.