The Rompo is a

mythological beast A legendary creature (also mythical or mythological creature) is a type of fictional entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore (including myths and legends), but may be featured in historical accoun ...

said to have been found in India and Africa. It is described as having the head and mouth of a

hare Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The ge ...

, the ears of a

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...

, a mane, a slender body approximately three feet in length, a long tail ending in a hairy brush, the front feet of a badger, and the rear feet of a

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...

. It feeds on human corpses, which it obtains by digging up graves, and is termed the "Man-Eater" due to this habit. After discovering a body, instead of immediately devouring it, it circles around it several times as if afraid to seize it. The legend of the Rompo may have been inspired by the ecology and behavior of

hyena Hyenas, or hyaenas (from Ancient Greek , ), are feliform carnivoran mammals of the family Hyaenidae . With only four extant species (each in its own genus), it is the fifth-smallest family in the Carnivora and one of the smallest in the clas ...

References

Bibliography

* Boreman, Thomas.
A Description of Three Hundred Animals; viz Beast, Birds, Fishes, Serpents and Insects
' p. 10. 1730, London. Online. * Matthews, John and Caitlin
''The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures.''
p. 486. Sterling Publishing. 2006. {{ISBN, 1-4027-3543-X. Online. March 13, 2008. Medieval European legendary creatures Mythological hybrids