The ''Peuchen'' (also known as ''Piuchen, Pihuchen, Pihuychen, Pihuichen, Piguchen,'' or ''Piwuchen'') is a creature from the
Mapuche mythology
The mythology and religion of the indigenous Mapuche people of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina is an extensive and ancient belief system. A series of unique legends and myths are common to the various groups that make up the Mapuc ...
and
Chilote mythology
The Chilote mythology or Chilota mythology is formed by the myths, legends and beliefs of the people who live in the Chiloé Archipelago, in the south of Chile. This mythology reflects the importance of the sea in the life of Chilotes.
Chilote my ...
pertaining to southern
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...
, a much feared
shapeshifting
In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shape-shifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through an inherently superhuman ability, divine intervention, demonic manipulation, sorcery, spells or having inherited the ...
creature that can instantly change into animal form. According to legend, El Peuchen takes the hearts of its victims without leaving a mark on the body.
It has often been described as a gigantic flying snake which produced strange whistling sounds, while its gaze could paralyze an intended victim and permit it to suck its
blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the cir ...
. It has often been reported as the cause of blood by sucked from your sheep.
The creature can be eliminated by a ''
machi'' (Mapuche herbal healer).
See also
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Colo Colo
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Basilisco Chilote The Basilisco chilote is a creature from Chilota mythology originating from the Chiloé Archipelago, in southern Chile.
The Basilisco chilote is described as having the crest of a rooster and the body of a serpent. It is hatched from an egg that ...
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Chonchon
*
Chupacabra
The chupacabra or chupacabras (, literally 'goat-sucker'; from es, chupar, 'to suck', and , 'goats') is a legendary creature in the folklore of parts of the Americas, with its first purported sightings reported in Puerto Rico in 1995. The ...
Notes
References
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Chilote legendary creatures
Indigenous South American legendary creatures
Mapuche legendary creatures
Mythological hematophages
Shapeshifting
Mythological hybrids
Latin American folklore
Legendary serpents
Dragons
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