Xyíntli

In folklore a xyíntli, also commonly called a [DINUUEN NAME], is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a human and the lower body of various sea creatures. They are reported to take the form of many creatures ranging from monk seals to serpents to jellyfish. Xyíntli appear in many cultures around the Kidal Sea and within recent years have begun to appear in popular culture references worldwide.

Xyíntli are often associated with tragedies such as storms, tsunamis, shipwrecks and drownings. Occasionally, however, they are presented and beneficent by bestowing blessings upon humans or falling in love with them. They are most commonly depicted and sighted as female, however, there are common descriptions of male xyíntli even though their sightings are less commonly reported.

Historical accounts of xyíntli have been linked to misidentified aquatic animals by sailors from the Kidal Sea who often ventured into distant waters that contained unfamiliar fauna. Despite a lack of evidence that xyíntli exist outside of mythology, there are numerous reports of sightings that continue into the modern day.

Xyíntli have long been a subject of art and literature, particularly amongst the Énqutsa whose earliest epic poems feature the creatures. In the present, xyíntli feature in operas, paintings, novels, cinema and poetry.