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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Alerion | Alerion | Bird | A bird the color of fire, with razor-sharp wings |
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 |
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 |
Badger | Taxus | Beast | A dirty beast that bites |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Catoblepas | Catoblepas | Beast | A beast with a head so heavy it can only look down |
Centaur | Centaurus | Beast | A beast part man and part horse |
Cerastes | Cerastes | Serpent | An exceptionally flexible serpent with horns |
Chameleon | Cameleon | Serpent | An animal that can change its color |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Dog | Canis | Beast | A young dog bound to a patient cures internal wounds |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Elephant | Elephas | Beast | Persian and Indian soldiers build wooden towers on the back of elephants and fight from there. |
Falcon | Falco | Bird | A bird used for hunting |
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 |
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 |
Giraffe | Camelopardus | Beast | A beast that looks like a camel but has the spots of a leopard |
Goat | Caper | Beast | An animal that likes to live on high mountains |
Goose | Anser | Bird | Geese can smell the odor of man better than any other animal can |
Griffin | Gryphes | Beast | A beast with the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle |
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 | Gallus | 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 |
Hoopoe | Hupupa | Bird | The young care for their elderly parents |
Horse | Equus | Beast | A horse is a horse, of course, of course... |
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 | Another enemy of the dragon |
Indian Stone | Lapis indicus | Stone | A stone that can cure the illness called dropsy |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Lynx | Lynx | Beast | The urine of the lynx hardens into a precious stone |
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 |
Martineta | Martineta | Bird | A bird that does not decay when dead |
Mermaid | Serra | Fish | A creature half human, half fish |
Mole | Talpa | Beast | A blind animal that lives in the earth |
Monocerus | Monocerus | Beast | A fierce beast with a single long horn |
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 |
Muscaliet | Beast | A beast with the body of a hare, tail of a squirrel, teeth of a boar | |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Salamander | Salamandra | Serpent | Salamanders are so cold they can extinguish any fire |
Satyr | Satyrus | Beast | An ape-like wild man |
Sawfish | Serra | Fish | The sawfish has enormous wings and likes to race against ships |
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-pig | Porci marini | Fish | Sea-pigs dig up the ground under water |
Seps | Seps | Serpent | The poison of the seps consumes both body and bones |
Sheep | Ovis | Beast | The sheep is a defenceless, placid animal |
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 |
Snake | Serpens | Serpent | The snake crawls with hidden steps |
Sparrow | Passer | Bird | Sparrows are swift and live in cracks in walls |
Spider | Aranea | Insect | The spider is an aerial worm that takes its nourishment from the air |
Stag (Deer) | Cervus | Beast | A drink made from the tears and the heart bones of a stag is a cure for troubles of the heart |
Stork | Ciconia | Bird | Two crows lead flocks of storks when they cross the sea to Asia |
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 |
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 |
Tragelaphus (Reindee | Tragelaphus | Beast | A deer-like animal that has a beard |
Turtledove | Turtur | Bird | A bird that always remains faithful to its mate |
Unicorn | Unicornis | Beast | The unicorn is a fierce beast that can only be captured by a maiden |
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 |
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 |
Wether | Vervex | Beast | The wether is named from the worms in its head |
Whale | Aspidochelone | Fish | Sailors mistake the whale for an island |
Wolf | Lupus | Beast | If a wolf sees a man before the man sees the wolf, the man will lose his voice |
Woodpecker | Picus | Bird | No spike can remain in a tree where a woodpecker nests |
Worm | Vermis | Serpent | Worms are born from flesh without intercourse |
Yale | Eale | Beast | A beast with flexible horns that it can move at will |