Yaguareté-abá or Capiango is a creature from Guarani mythology. The origin of the name is in the Guarani language where "yaguareté" is one of the names by which the jaguar is known and "abá" or "avá" means "man". The heart of the myth is in the adoration that the indigenous people had of this animal.
The Yaguareté-abá can be compared to the myth of the werewolf, since in both legends, the creature is a human being who transforms into an anthropomorphic animalistic being.
Legend[]
Legend has it that these are sorcerers/shamans who, using the skin of a jaguar, incense and chicken feathers, would be able to transform themselves into an anthropomorphic jaguar. In a thicket they begin to perform a ritual, walking from left to right on the leather, praying a creed, while changing their aspect. After the transformation, they go out to hunt and, after devouring the prey, they return to their original form, performing the same ritual, but this time, in reverse, from right to left.
The extremities of the Yaguareté-abá's body correspond to a human being, while the back is broad and hairless. He is described as an ounce of common traits with a larger dimension and a killer character. He is also given the characteristic of lacking hair near his forehead and a very short or tailless tail. It feeds on the flesh of humans, mules or cows. He is greatly feared as he steals from farms. Upon death, the Yaguareté-abá immediately reverts to its human form. To kill him you need a bullet or a machete that has been blessed; then the creature must be beheaded.
Gallery[]
