Capelobo
An illustration of a Capelobo
GroupingMonster
Similar entitiesVampires, Werewolves
CountryBrazil
HabitatFloodplains

The Capelobo is a mythical creature from Brazilian mythology. Its legend is very common, especially in the states of Maranhão, Amazonas, and Pará. It is believed to have arisen among the indigenous people of the northern region of Brazil.[1]

Etymology

The name Capelobo is a fusion of an indigenous Brazilian word, cape, meaning broken bone, and the Portuguese word lobo, meaning wolf.[1][2][3]

Legends

The Capelobo has two forms, an animal form and a humanoid form. In its animal form, it is like a tapir with attributes of a dog. In its humanoid form, it has the head of a giant anteater (or a tapir or dog, depending on the version of the myth), the body of a human, and rounded, bottle-shaped legs. It has lots of hair on its body, and runs through forests near human settlements in floodplain regions.[1][3][4] It is sometimes described as having a single leg.[5]

It is known to hunt newborn puppies and kittens, but will kill humans by squeezing them and drinking their blood and eating their brains if given the opportunity.[5][6] The only way to defeat it is by shooting it in the navel.[2][5][7] In order to hunt humans, it produces a powerful scream which attracts them into the woods while also scaring them.[3][4] It is also said that some people will transform into Capelobos with age.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Capelobo". Portal São Francisco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  2. 1 2 "Capelobo - Lendas e Mitos". Só História (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  3. 1 2 3 "Capelobo - personagem do folclore brasileiro". Archived from the original on 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  4. 1 2 Cascudo, Luís da Câmara (2001). Dicionário do folclore brasileiro (10a. ed.). São Paulo, SP: Global Editora. ISBN 85-260-0644-4. OCLC 50906174.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Franchini, A. S. (2011). As 100 melhores lendas do folclore brasileiro. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil: L & PM Editores. ISBN 85-254-2087-5. OCLC 746712396.
  6. ↑ Fodor's Brazil, 1986. Edwin Taylor, Audrey Liounis. New York: Fodor's Travel Guides. 1986. ISBN 0-679-01205-2. OCLC 12926731.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ↑ "Dia do Folclore: lendas que você não conhece". Museu Regional de São João Del Rei. 2018-08-22.
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