Kumo

Kumo, the giant spider, has eyes as big as saucers, legs as long as a horse's, and very sharp teeth. It hides in houses, where it collapses in a corner, looking exactly like a futon.

Ovda

Travelers often hear ovda laughing and clapping their hands in the forest. Ovda love to play mean tricks and joke about them afterward. One of their favorite pranks is to approach a man, challenge him to a wrestling match, then tickle him to death.

Zombi

A sorcerer digs up a dead body, brings it back to life, and makes it his servant. Zombis always do what they are told, never think for themselves, and never speak. Sorcerers sometimes turn their zombis into animals, slaughter them, and sell the meat at the market. Eating this meat can turn you into a zombi.

Photos taken 31 August 2008 in San Francisco's Dogpatch.

Text from The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters by Judy Sierra.

Ocasta

No weapons can hurt the giant ocasta because his entire body is covered with slabs of flint.

Ankou

The Ankou - a living skeleton - drives the death cart that arrives at a house just before someone dies. Only the person who is about to die sees the ankou and his cart or hears his knock at the door.

Kwanokasha

The shadowy kwanokasha appear almost human. They make friends with children and take them to their caves.