The Camahueto is a legendary

bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e., cows), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, includin ...

found in

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 myt ...

. Originating in the

Chiloé Archipelago The Chiloé Archipelago ( es, Archipiélago de Chiloé, , ) is a group of islands lying off the coast of Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. It is separated from mainland Chile by the Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and t ...

, the bull was said to have a single horn on its forehead, similar to a

unicorn The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years o ...

's.

Legends

The Camahueto is said to grow within rivers, moving to the ocean when they are fully grown. The exact nature of the creature varies within folklore, but it is variously said to eat humans, control time and create rain or thunder at will. Characterised as a destructive animal, the Camahueto is said to destroys all crops and capture all creatures it comes across when it travels on land. Legends tell of humans being dragged into the depths of the sea by the Camahueto when they cross its path, or approach its resting place. According to legend, the only way to rid yourself of a Camahueto is to call for the aid of a machi, or witch, who can lead the animal back to sea using a lasso made of kelp.

References

Chilote legendary creatures Mythological bovines Unicorns {{SouthAm-myth-stub