Beast Index - Alphabetic
This is an index to the beasts, in alphabetic order, listing only the common names used on this site. You can filter the list by typing a partial word in the box below. The alphabet band at the left allows you to jump to the first item sorted under the letter you click. See the help page for more information.
Filter on column:
Name | Latin | Type | |
---|---|---|---|
Agate | Achates | Stone | Can be used to find pearls |
Alerion | Alerion | Bird | A bird the color of fire, with razor-sharp wings |
Allec | Allec | Fish | A fish used to make pickled fish sauce |
Amphisbaena | Amphisbaena | Serpent | A serpent with two heads, one at either end |
Ant | Formica | Insect | Ants harvest grain to store for the winter |
Ant-lion | Myrmecoleon | Beast | The offspring of an ant and a lion |
Antelope | Antalops | Beast | An animal so wild no hunter can approach it |
Ape | Simia | Beast | Called "simia" because it is similar to humans |
Aphorus | Aphorus | Fish | A small fish that cannot be caught on a hook |
Asp | Aspis | Serpent | Blocks its ear with its tail so as not to hear the charmer |
Ass | Asinus | Beast | An animal that is slow and resists commands |
Australis | Australis | Fish | A fish that appears when the Pleiades decline |
Badger | Taxus | Beast | A dirty beast that bites |
Barbulus | Barbulus | Fish | A fish with a beard |
Barnacle Goose | Bernace | Bird | A bird that initially grows from trees |
Basilisk | Regulus | Serpent | Its odor, voice and even look can kill |
Bat | Vespertilio | Bird | A bird that gives birth to living young |
Bear | Ursus | Beast | The cubs are born unformed, and must be licked into shape by the mother |
Beaver | Castor | Beast | Hunted for its testicles, it castrates itself to escape from the hunter |
Bee | Apes | Insect | Bees are the smallest of birds, and are born from the bodies of oxen |
Bee-eater | Meropes | Bird | Bee-eater young care for their elderly parents |
Behemoth | Behemoth | Beast | An enormous four-footed beast |
Bibiones | Bibiones | Insect | Insects that are generated in wine |
Bittern | Onocratulus | Bird | A bird that makes a booming noise |
Blackbird | Merula | Bird | An agreeable bird that sings in April and May |
Boa | Boas | Serpent | An enormous snake, found in Italy, that feeds on cattle |
Boar (Wild) | Aper | Beast | A savage wild pig or hog |
Bonnacon | Bonnacon | Beast | A beast like a bull, that uses its dung as a weapon |
Botrax | Botrax | Serpent | A serpent with the face of a frog |
Bream | Dentix | Fish | A fish with many large teeth |
Buffalo | Bubalus | Beast | Buffalo are so wild that they cannot be yoked |
Bull | Juvencus | Beast | The Indian bull is tawny colored and swift as a bird |
Buprestis | Buprestis | Insect | A venomous beetle that attacks cows |
Bustard | Gradipes | A bird that cannot quickly fly high | |
Butterfly | Papilio | Insect | An insect that generates small worms from its dung |
Caladrius | Caladrius | Bird | A bird which can tell if a sick man will die, and can cure disease |
Camel | Camelus | Beast | Camels can endure thirst for three days and prefer to drink muddy water |
Carbuncle | Carbuncle | Stone | When it is held against the sun it resembles a burning coal |
Cat | Musio | Beast | An animal that is hostile to mice |
Caterpillar | Eruca | Worm | A worm that eats foliage |
Catoblepas | Catoblepas | Beast | A beast with a head so heavy it can only look down |
Cedar Tree | Cedar tree | Plant | Symbol of Mary and of the transfiguration of Christ |
Cenchris | Cenchris | Serpent | A serpent that cannot bend |
Centaur | Centaurus | Beast | The centaur is part man and part horse |
Centipede | Centupedia | Serpent | A serpent with many feet |
Centris | Centris | Serpent | An inflexible serpent |
Cerastes | Cerastes | Serpent | An exceptionally flexible serpent with horns |
Chameleon | Cameleon | Serpent | An animal that can change its color |
Chelydros | Chelydros | Serpent | Land and water serpent |
Cicada | Cicada | Insect | An insect born from the saliva of the cuckoo |
Cinnamologus | Cinnamulgus | Bird | An Arabian bird that makes its nest from the fruits of the cinnamon tree |
Cock | Gallus | Bird | The cock is a bird that can tell time |
Coot | Fulica | Bird | An intelligent bird that stays in one place |
Coredulus | Coredulus | Bird | A bird whoes name implies "eater of the heart" |
Cow (Domestic) | Vacca | Beast | A useful animal |
Crab | Cancer | Fish | A fish with claws |
Crane | Grus | Bird | At night cranes take turns keeping watch for enemies |
Cricket | Grillus | Insect | A creature that likes to sing, forgetting all else |
Crocodile | Crocodilus | Beast | A beast that weeps after eating a man |
Crow | Cornix | Bird | A long-lived bird that foretells the future |
Cuckoo | Cuculus | Bird | A weak bird that travels on the backs of kites |
Cuttlefish | Sepia | Fish | A fish that is easily caught in enclosures |
Diamond | Adamas | Stone | If a diamond is kept in a house, demons cannot enter |
Dipsa | Dipsas | Serpent | A snake so poisonous that its bite kills before it is felt |
Doe | Dammula | Beast | The female deer |
Dog | Canis | Beast | A young dog bound to a patient cures internal wounds |
Dog-fly | Cynomya | Worm | A type of fly |
Dolphin | Delphine | Fish | Dolphins gather in schools at the sound of music |
Dormouse | Glis | Beast | They sleep all winter as if dead |
Dove | Columba | Bird | There is meaning in the various colors of doves |
Dragon | Draco | Serpent | The greatest of all serpents on earth |
Dragonfly | Odonata | Insect | A long thin insect with four wings |
Dromedary | Dromedarius | Beast | The dromedary is a small camel that can travel a hundred Roman miles a day |
Duck | Anas | Bird | The ducks of Pontus feed on the poison in the sea |
Dyomeda | Dyomeda | Bird | A bird that can distinguish between local people and foreigners |
Eagle | Aquila | Bird | A bird with eyes so strong it can look directly into the sun |
Echeneis | Echeneis | Fish | This fish clings to ships and holds them back |
Eel | Anguilla | Fish | A serpent of the sea |
Elephant | Elephas | Beast | Persian and Indian soldiers build wooden towers on the back of elephants and fight from there. |
Elk | Alches | Beast | The Eurasian elk or moose |
Escarus | Escarus | Fish | A fish that ruminates its food |
Falcon | Falco | Bird | A bird used for hunting |
Figpecker | Ficedula | A bird that mostly eats figs | |
Fire Stones | Lapides igniferi | Stone | Stones that burst into flames when brought close together |
Fish | Pices | Fish | The number of species of fish is uncountable |
Fly | Musca | Insect | An insect that can revive after being drowned |
Fox | Vulpis | Beast | A crafty and deceitful animal that never runs in a straight line |
Frog | Rana | Serpent | Land frogs die if exposed to rain |
Furfurio | Furfurio | A bird that feeds on flour | |
Giraffe | Camelopardus | Beast | A beast that looks like a camel but has the spots of a leopard |
Glaucus | Glaucus | Fish | A white fish that appears on cloudy days |
Glow-worm | Cicindela | Insect | An insect that gives off light |
Gnat | Culex | Insect | An insect that sucks blood |
Goat | Caper | Beast | An animal that likes to live on high mountains |
Goldfinch | Carduellus | Bird | A bird that eats thorns and thistles |
Goose | Anser | Bird | Geese can smell the odor of man better than any other animal can |
Grey Mullet | Mugilis | Fish | An agile fish of the Mediterranean |
Griffin | Gryphes | Beast | A beast with the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle |
Hamio | Hamio | Fish | A fish with purple markings |
Hare | Lepus | Beast | A timid beast that runs fast |
Harpy | Harpyia | Bird | A fierce bird with a human head |
Hawk | Accipiter | Bird | The hawk has great courage in a small body |
He-goat | Hircus | Beast | A beast so hot that its blood dissolves diamond |
Hedgehog | Herinacius | Beast | A beast that carries away grapes on its sharp quills |
Hen | Gallina | Bird | Hens become weak because their chicks are weak |
Hercinia | Hercinia | Bird | A bird with brightly glowing feathers |
Heron | Herodius | Bird | A bird wise above all others |
Hippopotamus | Yppotamus | Beast | A large beast called the river horse |
Hoopoe | Hupupa | Bird | The young care for their elderly parents |
Hornet | Crabro | Insect | Hornets are born from the flesh of the horse |
Horse | Equus | Beast | A horse is a horse, of course, of course... |
Horse-fly | Oestrus | Insect | A stinging insect associanted with cattle |
Hydra | Hydra | Serpent | A multi-headed serpent |
Hydros | Hydros | Serpent | A water snake that makes those bitten swell up |
Hydrus | Hydrus | Serpent | The enemy of the crocodile, which it kills from the inside |
Hyena | Hyaena | Beast | A beast that eats human corpses and changes sex |
Ibex | Ibex | Beast | A beast with horns so strong they can save it from a fall |
Ibis | Ibis | Bird | The dirtiest of birds because it feeds on corpses |
Ichneumon | Ichneumon | Serpent | An enemy of the snake |
Indian Stone | Lapis indicus | Stone | A stone that can cure the illness called dropsy |
Jackdaw | Monedula | Bird | The jackdaw is a noisy bird |
Jaculus | Jaculus | Serpent | A flying serpent |
Jay | Graculus | Bird | A very noisy bird |
Kingfisher | Halcyon | Bird | A bird that calms sea storms |
Kite | Milvus | Bird | A rapacious bird that feeds on carrion |
Lamb | Agnus | Beast | The lamb knows its own parents by their voice |
Lamia | Lamia | Beast | A stealer and killer of children |
Lark | Alauda | Bird | A singing bird |
Leech | Sanguisuga | Worm | A blood sucking aquatic worm |
Leontophone | Leontophone | Beast | A small beast that is deadly to lions |
Leopard | Leopardus | Beast | The offspring of a mating between a lion and a pard |
Leucrota | Leucrota | Beast | A composite beast with a mouth that stretches from ear to ear |
Leviathan | Leviathan | Serpent | An enormous sea-dragon |
Lion | Leo | Beast | The lion is the king of the beasts |
Lizard | Saura | Serpent | When the lizard goes blind, it looks to the rising sun |
Locust | Locusta | Beast | An insect with long legs |
Lynx | Lynx | Beast | The urine of the lynx hardens into a precious stone |
Magnet | Lapis magnis | Stone | Magnet or lodestone attracts iron |
Magpie | Pica | Bird | The magpie has a voice which can express words with distinct sounds |
Mandrake | Mandragora | Plant | A plant with human-shaped roots, that shrieks when it is pulled from the earth |
Manticore | Manticora | Beast | A composite beast with a man's face, a lion's body, and the stinger of a scorpion |
Martin | Martinarus | Beast | An animal that is common in Ireland |
Martineta | Martineta | Bird | A bird that does not decay when dead |
Melanurus | Melanurus | Fish | A fish with a black tail |
Memnonides | Memnonides | Bird | A bird that flies from Egypt to Troy every fifth year |
Mergus | Mergus | Bird | Generic term for a sea bird |
Mermaid | Serra | Fish | A creature half human, half fish |
Millago | Millago | Fish | A fish that flies over water |
Millipede | Multipes | Worm | A worm with a multitude of feet |
Mole | Talpa | Beast | A blind animal that lives in the earth |
Monocerus | Monocerus | Beast | A fierce beast with a single long horn |
Moth | Blatta | Insect | An insect that cannot bear the light |
Moth-worm | Tinea | Worm | A worm that eats clothes |
Mouse | Mus | Beast | A small animal that is born from the soil |
Mule | Mulus | Beast | Mules come from the unnatural mating of a female horse and a male ass |
Muraena | Muraena | Fish | A fish that twists itself in circles |
Muscaliet | Muscaliet | Beast | A beast with the body of a hare, tail of a squirrel, teeth of a boar |
Mussel | Musculus | Fish | A shellfish that serves as the male for oysters |
Natrix | Natrix | Serpent | A snake that contaminates water |
Newt | Stellio | Serpent | A lizard with spots like stars on its back |
Nightingale | Luscinia | Bird | A bird that that sings so enthusiastically that it almost dies |
Octopus | Polipo | Fish | The octopus is a very clever sea fisher and very clever at deceiving others. |
Onager | Onager | Beast | A wild ass that can predict the coming of the equinox |
Onocentaur | Onocentaurus | Beast | A beast with the upper body of a man and the lower body of an ass |
Ophites | Ophites | Serpent | A serpent the color of sand |
Orphan Bird | Bird | The mother bird knows which of her eggs contain the best offspring | |
Osprey | Aurifrigius | Bird | Ospreys are smaller than eagles but larger than hawks |
Ostrich | Assida | Bird | A bird that can digest anything, even iron, but is careless of its eggs |
Owl | Noctua | Bird | The owl is a dirty bird that prefers darkness to light |
Ox | Bos | Beast | The ox is a strong beast that can predict the weather |
Pagrus | Pagrus | Fish | A fish with hard teeth |
Palm Tree | Palma | Plant | Palm tree |
Panther | Panthera | Beast | A gentle, multicolored beast whose only enemy is the dragon |
Parandrus | Parandrus | Beast | A beast that can conceal itself by changing its appearance |
Pard | Pardus | Beast | A swift and deadly beast that kills with a single leap |
Parias | Parias | Serpent | A serpent that walks on its tail |
Parrot | Psittacus | Bird | A talking bird with a very hard beak |
Partridge | Perdix | Bird | A deceitful bird that steals other birds' eggs |
Peacock | Pavo | Bird | A bird with a terrible voice and flesh too hard to cook |
Peahen | Pavo | Bird | Female peafowl, with a less magnificent tail |
Pearl-oyster | Margarita | Stone | Pearls are produced by a stone called an oyster |
Pelican | Pelicanus | Bird | A bird that revives its dead young with its own blood |
Peridexion Tree | Peredixion | Plant | A tree in India that attracts doves and repels dragons |
Pheasant | Phasianus | Bird | A bird named for the Greek island of Phasis |
Phoenix | Phoenix | Bird | A bird that rises anew from the ashes of its funeral pyre |
Pig (Domestic) | Porcus | Beast | A filthy animal that wallows in mud |
Pike | Lupus piscis | Fish | The wolf of the sea |
Porcupine | Histrix | Beast | An animal that has quills or spines |
Quail | Coturnix | Bird | Quails cannot be eaten, because they feed on poisonous seeds |
Rabbit | Cuniculus | Beast | A wild beast hunted by dogs |
Ram | Aries | Beast | Rams were the first animals to be sacrificed on alters |
Rat | Rattus | Beast | An oversized mouse |
Raven | Corvus | Bird | The raven will not accept its young until their feathers turn black |
Red Mullet | Mullus | Fish | A fish of the Mediterranean |
Rinatrix | Rinatrix | Serpent | A serpent that poisons water |
Salamander | Salamandra | Serpent | Salamanders are so cold they can extinguish any fire |
Salmon | Salmonis | Fish | Fish that swim upstream and leap up waterfalls |
Salpuga | Salpuga | Serpent | A snake that is invisible |
Sardine | Sardina | Fish | A small fish |
Satyr | Satyrus | Beast | An ape-like wild man |
Sawfish | Serra | Fish | The sawfish has enormous wings and likes to race against ships |
Scallop | Fish | Symbol of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela | |
Sciniphes | Sciniphes | Insect | A tiny, troublesome fly |
Scitalis | Scitalis | Serpent | A serpent with such a marvellous appearance that it stuns the viewer |
Scorpion | Scorpius | Insect | The scorpion is a worm that stings with its tail |
Sea-cow | Bocas | Fish | The cow of the sea |
Sea-dog | Canes maris | Fish | The dog of the sea |
Sea-dragon | Draco marinus | Fish | The dragon of the sea |
Sea-hare | Lepus marinus | Fish | The hare of the sea |
Sea-horse | Equis marini | Fish | The horse of the sea |
Sea-mule | Mullus piscis | Fish | The mule of the sea |
Sea-pig | Porci marini | Fish | Sea-pigs dig up the ground under water |
Sea-raven | Corvi maris | Fish | The raven of the sea |
Sea-scorpion | Scorpio | Fish | The scorpion of the sea |
Sea-snail | Murica | Fish | The sea-snail produces purple dye |
Sea-spider | Aranea | Fish | The spider of the sea |
Sea-swallow | Yrundine piscis | Fish | The swallow of the sea |
Sea-urchin | Echinus | Fish | A shellfish with spines |
Sea-viper | Vipera marina | Fish | The viper of the sea |
Seal | Phoca | Fish | The calf of the sea |
Seps | Seps | Serpent | The poison of the seps consumes both body and bones |
Sheep | Ovis | Beast | The sheep is a defenceless, placid animal |
Shrew | Sorex | Beast | A kind of mouse that bites |
Silkworm | Bombyx | Worm | Silkworms weave cloth from leaves |
Siren | Sirena | Bird | A deadly creature, half human, half bird or fish |
Siren (Serpent) | Siren | Serpent | An snake so poisonous that those bitten die before they feel pain |
Slug | Limax | Worm | Slugs are born out of mud |
Snail | Cochlea | Fish | Snails live on land and in water |
Snake | Serpens | Serpent | The snake crawls with hidden steps |
Sparrow | Passer | Bird | Sparrows are swift and live in cracks in walls |
Sparus | Sparus | Fish | A fish shaped like a spear |
Spider | Aranea | Worm | The spider is an aerial worm that takes its nourishment from the air |
Sponge | Sfungia | Fish | A fish used for cleaning |
Squatus | Squatus | Fish | A fish with sharp scales |
Squid | Lulligo | Fish | A multitude of squid can sink ships |
Squirrel | Cyrogrillus | Beast | An animal that climbs trees |
Stag | Cervus | Beast | A drink made from the tears and the heart bones of a stag is a cure for troubles of the heart |
Starling | Sturnis | Bird | A bird with stars on its feathers |
Stork | Ciconia | Bird | Two crows lead flocks of storks when they cross the sea to Asia |
Stymphalis | Stymphalis | Bird | Man-eating birds with beaks of bronze and sharp metallic feathers |
Swallow | Hirundo | Bird | The swallow deserts buildings that are about to collapse |
Swan | Olor | Bird | The swan sings most sweetly just before it dies |
Swordfish | Gladius | Fish | A fish with a pointed beak it uses to sink ships |
Terido | Teredo | Worm | Wood worms that are generated when trees are cut at the wrong time |
Thrush | Turdus | Bird | A bird that returns at the beginning of winter |
Thymallus | Thymallus | Fish | A fish named after a flower |
Tiger | Tigris | Beast | Tigers are remarkable for their strength and speed |
Titmouse | Bird | A bird that is curious about other birds | |
Torpedo | Torpedo | Fish | A fish whose touch numbs the strongest arms and swiftest feet |
Tortoise | Testudo | Fish | The tortoise is a fish with a back covered in a shell |
Tragelaphus (Reindeer) | Tragelaphus | Beast | A deer-like animal that has a beard |
Tuna | Thynnus | Fish | Fish that sees better with the right eye |
Turtledove | Turtur | Bird | A bird that always remains faithful to its mate |
Unguis | Unguis | Fish | A fish named from its similarity to fingernails |
Unicorn | Unicornis | Beast | The unicorn is a fierce beast that can only be captured by a maiden |
Uranoscopus | Uranoscopus | A fish that always looks upward | |
Viper | Vipera | Serpent | The young of the viper eat their way out of their mother's side |
Vulture | Vultur | Bird | The vulture is a slow-flying bird that eats corpses |
Walrus | Fish | Large sea beast with tusks | |
Wasp | Vespis | Insect | A stinging insect |
Water-horse | Hippocampus | Beast | A beast with the front half of a horse and tail of a fish or serpent |
Weasel | Mustella | Beast | The weasel conceives at the mouth and gives birth through the ear |
Weevil | Gurgulio | Insect | An insect that is almost nothing but a throat |
Wether | Vervex | Beast | The wether is named from the worms in its head |
Whale | Aspidochelone | Fish | Sailors mistake the whale for an island |
Wild Man | Beast | A man who lives wild in the forest | |
Wolf | Lupus | Beast | If a wolf sees a man before the man sees the wolf, the man will lose his voice |
Wood-dove | Palumbes | Bird | A chaste bird |
Woodpecker | Picus | Bird | No spike can remain in a tree where a woodpecker nests |
Worm | Vermis | Worm | Worms are born from flesh without intercourse |
Yale | Eale | Beast | A beast with flexible horns that it can move at will |