This list includes 13 Mythological creatures that start with X, from “Xana” to “Xuanwu”. These entries cover spirits, hybrids, and legendary animals useful for writers, researchers, teachers, and game designers.
Mythological creatures that start with X are non-human beings from myths and folklore worldwide. Notable examples like Xuanwu, the Chinese Black Tortoise, show how names link to regional cosmology.
Below you’ll find the table with Origin, Description, and Famous stories.
Origin: Reveals the culture or region where each creature appears, helping you place it in historical and folkloric context.
Description: Provides a concise 20–40 word summary of appearance, powers, and role, so you can quickly assess each creature’s traits.
Famous stories: Lists one or two well-known myths or works that feature the creature, so you can follow up on primary tales.
Mythological creatures that start with X
Name
Origin (culture/region)
Alternate spellings / Original name
Famous stories
Xana
Asturian (Spain)
Jana
General Asturian and Cantabrian folklore
Xecotcovach
K’iche’ Maya
Xecotocovach
Popol Vuh
Xiangliu
Chinese
相柳, Xiangyao
Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing)
Xiao
Chinese
囂, 鴞
Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing)
Xicalcoatl
Aztec
Jicalcoatl
Described in chronicles of New Spain
Xiezhi
Chinese
獬豸, Haetae (Korean)
Described in the works of scholar Wang Chong (Han Dynasty)
Xing Tian
Chinese
刑天, Hsing T’ien
Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing)
Xiniu
Chinese
犀牛, “Rhinoceros of insight”
Tales from the Jin Dynasty
Xiuhcoatl
Aztec
Fire Serpent, Turquoise Serpent
Myth of Huitzilopochtli’s birth
Xochitonal
Aztec
Xochitonatl
Mentioned in the Florentine Codex
Xolotl
Aztec
Xólotl
Legend of the Fifth Sun
Xtabay
Yucatec Maya
Ixtabay, X-tabay
General Yucatecan folklore
Xuanwu
Chinese
玄武, Black Warrior, Genbu (Japanese)
One of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations
Descriptions
Xana
An exceptionally beautiful female water spirit or nymph with long blonde hair, found in fountains, rivers, and forests. They guard treasures and can be both helpful or dangerous.
Xecotcovach
A monstrous raptor-like bird demon that served the underworld lords of Xibalba. It was one of several creatures sent to attack the Hero Twins, tearing out one of their eyes.
Xiangliu
A monstrous nine-headed snake with a venomous, self-regenerating body. Its blood was so toxic that it poisoned the land, making it uninhabitable and unable to grow crops.
Xiao
A mythical creature resembling an owl or kite but with a human face, a monkey’s body, and a dog’s tail. Its appearance was considered an omen of severe drought.
Xicalcoatl
A “gourd-cup serpent” from Aztec mythology. This colorful, thick-bodied snake was said to have a distinctive hump on its back resembling a traditional gourd cup.
Xiezhi
A mythical unicorn-like goat with a single horn. It possesses the innate ability to distinguish right from wrong, instinctively ramming the guilty party in legal disputes.
Xing Tian
A headless giant decapitated in a battle against the Supreme Divinity. He defiantly uses his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth, continuing to fight with his shield and axe.
Xiniu
A divine rhinoceros whose single horn was believed to be telepathic and luminescent. When burned, the horn would shine a light allowing one to see spirits and hidden truths.
Xiuhcoatl
A divine feathered serpent of fire and drought, often depicted with a turquoise segmented body. It was the spirit form of the fire god and a powerful weapon of the sun god.
Xochitonal
A giant, iguana-like reptilian creature that was said to live in the waters of the underworld, Mictlan. It was a fierce guardian of the watery realms, attacking souls crossing the river.
Xolotl
A dog-headed deity and spirit guide for the dead. As the twin of Quetzalcoatl, he is associated with lightning, sickness, and deformities, guiding souls through the underworld.
Xtabay
A seductive female demon or spirit who lurks near ceiba trees. She lures men to their doom with her beauty, often leaving them insane or dead in the wilderness.
Xuanwu
The Black Tortoise of the North, a divine creature that combines a large tortoise and a coiling serpent. It represents winter, the element of water, and longevity.
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