Here you’ll find 17 Mythological creatures that start with R that begin with R, organized from “Rahu” to “Ryu”. They range from celestial serpents and dragon-figures to trickster spirits and sea monsters, and serve writers, teachers, and game designers.
Mythological creatures that start with R are non-human beings from global myths and folklore, including monsters, spirits, and legendary animals. Many reflect local concerns like weather, fertility, or ocean dangers, and some appear across cultures under different names.
Below you’ll find the table with Origin, Description, and Famous stories.
Origin: Shows the culture or region where the creature appears, so you can trace its cultural background and thematic roots.
Description: Brief summary of appearance, powers, and behavior in 20–40 words, so you can quickly assess each creature’s role.
Famous stories: Names of key myths, tales, or literary works that feature the creature, helping you locate primary examples quickly.
Mythological creatures that start with R
Name
Alternate spellings
Origin (culture/region)
Famous stories
Roc
Rukh, Rokh
Middle Eastern, Arabic, Persian
Sinbad; Arabian Nights
Rakshasa
Rākṣasa, Raksasa
Hindu, Indian subcontinent
Ramayana; Mahabharata
Raktabija
Raktabiija, Raktabeej
Hindu, Indian
Devi Mahatmya (Durga myths)
Rahu
Rāhu
Hindu, Indian
Samudra Manthan (churning of ocean); eclipse myths
Raróg
Rarog, Raróg
Slavic (Poland, Ukraine)
Slavic folklore
Rusalka
Rusalki
Slavic (Eastern Europe)
Slavic folktales
Rokurokubi
RokurokubI
Japanese
Japanese folktales; Kwaidan collections
Raijū
Raiju, Raijuu
Japanese
Shinto thunder myths
Rangda
Ibu Rangda
Balinese (Indonesia)
Barong vs. Rangda dance; Balinese legends
Redcap
Red Cap
Scottish Borders
Border folklore; local ballads
Revenant
—
European folklore
Medieval accounts; folktales
Rougarou
Rugaroo, Roux-Ga-Roux
Cajun/Acadian (Louisiana)
Louisiana folktales
Raven Mocker
Ravenmocker
Cherokee (Native American)
Cherokee folklore
Re’em
Reem
Hebrew, Biblical
Hebrew Bible references
Rompo
Rompah
Medieval bestiaries (Africa/India roots)
Medieval bestiary entries
Ryu
Ryū, Ryuu
Japanese
Various Japanese dragon tales
Ratatoskr
Ratatosk
Norse
Prose Edda; Poetic Edda
Descriptions
Roc
Enormous legendary bird of prey said to lift elephants and ships, featured in medieval Arab travel tales and sailors’ marvel stories.
Rakshasa
Shapeshifting demonic beings in Hindu myth, often malevolent, tricksters or warriors who eat humans and oppose gods and heroes.
Raktabija
A demon whose spilled blood spawns endless clones; defeated by goddess Durga/Kali who prevents his blood from touching ground.
Rahu
Head-only asura who swallows sun or moon, causing eclipses; a shadowy graha in Vedic and Puranic stories.
Raróg
Fiery falcon or fire spirit in Slavic tales, associated with hearth, storms, or as a guardian of fire and smithing.
Rusalka
Water nymph spirits, often the souls of drowned women, who haunt lakes and rivers; portrayals range from dangerous seductress to lonely nature spirit.
Rokurokubi
Yōkai who appear human by day but at night their necks stretch (or heads detach) to roam; sometimes playful, sometimes eerie.
Raijū
Companion of the thunder god, a lightning beast that takes animal forms (wolf, fox, cat) and is born from lightning strikes.
Rangda
Fearsome demon queen and witch leader in Balinese myth, enemy of the protective Barong, central to ritual dramas and exorcisms.
Redcap
Bloodthirsty goblin of ruined castles who dyes his hat with victims’ blood; a malicious sprite from Scottish border tales.
Revenant
An animated corpse or spirit that returns to the living to cause harm or seek justice; a precursor to modern vampire/zombie concepts.
Rougarou
A werewolf-like creature or cursed human in Cajun folklore, used in cautionary tales and local superstition.
Raven Mocker
Malicious witch that steals life by mimicking ravens; said to feed on the sick and bring death with a sickly crowing.
Re’em
A gigantic mythical wild ox or unicorn-like beast mentioned in biblical texts, often a symbol of immense strength.
Rompo
Composite corpse-eating beast described in medieval traveler lore—mixes features of hare, badger, hedgehog; part of European wonder-lists.
Ryu
Serpentine, benevolent dragons associated with water, rain and rulership of seas; wise, sometimes temple-dwelling, often auspicious.
Ratatoskr
Gossipy squirrel that scurries up and down Yggdrasil, carrying insults between an eagle at the tree’s top and the serpent Níðhöggr below.
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