Yara-ma-yha-who facts for kids
Grouping | Legendary creature |
---|---|
Sub grouping | Vampire |
Mythology | Australian Aboriginal |
Country | Australia |
Habitat | Fig trees |
The Yara-ma-yha-who is a fascinating legendary creature from Australian Aboriginal mythology. Stories about this unique being have been shared for many years. One famous storyteller was David Unaipon.
About the Yara-ma-yha-who
This creature is a small, frog-like man. It has bright red skin and a very large head. Its mouth is big, but it has no teeth. Instead, the Yara-ma-yha-who has special suckers. These suckers are on the ends of its hands and feet.
Where it Lives and What it Does
The Yara-ma-yha-who is said to live in fig trees. It does not hunt for its food. Instead, it waits patiently for someone to rest under its tree. When a traveler stops, the creature drops down. It uses its suckers to attach itself.
Afterward, it swallows the person whole. Then, it drinks some water and takes a nap. When the Yara-ma-yha-who wakes up, it brings the person back out. The person is now a little shorter than before. Their skin also has a reddish color. This process happens many times. Eventually, the person changes into a Yara-ma-yha-who themselves.
How to Avoid It
According to the legends, the Yara-ma-yha-who is only active during the day. It only targets living people. One way to avoid an attack is to pretend to be asleep. If you play dead until the sun sets, the creature might leave you alone. Stories about this creature were often told to children. They were used to encourage good behavior.