Tatzelwurm
Description
Cat-faced serpentine creature dwelling in Alpine caves. Has only two front legs and a thick cylindrical body. Its breath is said to be lethal
The Legend
The Tatzelwurm is a lizard-like creature from the folklore of the Central European Alps, essentially considered a type of dragon. It is generally described as having the face of a cat and a snake-like body, which can be slender or stout. It is depicted as having four short legs or two front legs without hind legs, a characteristic shared with many lindworms. This creature is said to be venomous or to attack with a toxic breath, and it is reported to make high-pitched sounds or hissing noises. Stories about the Tatzelwurm can be found in various European regions, including Austria, Bavaria, France, Italy, and the Swiss Alps.
Variants
The name Tatzelwurm is not traditionally used in Switzerland, where it is generally known as Stollenwurm or Stollwurm. In some areas of the Swiss Alps, names such as Bergstutz, Springwurm, and Praatzelwurm are used, while in the French Alps, it is referred to as arassas. In Slovenia, forms such as Daadzelwurm and Hockwurm exist.
This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Tatzelwurm" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia