The Peuchen is a creature from the Mapuche mythology

Mapuche mythology

The beliefs of the Mapuche and their mythology, stories about to the world and creatures born of the extensive and old religious beliefs, next to a series of common legend and myths that belong to the different groups that compose the Mapuche ethnic group .-Description:In the mythology and beliefs...

 and Chilote mythology pertaining to southern Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

, a much feared shapeshifting

Shapeshifting

Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...

 creature which could instantly change into animal form.

It has often been described as gigantic flying snake which produced strange whistling sounds, while its gaze could paralyse an intended victim and permit it to suck its blood

Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....

. It has often been reported as the cause of sucking the blood from sheep.

The creature can be eliminated by a machi

Machi (Shaman)

A machi is a traditional healer and religious leader in the Mapuche culture of Chile and Argentina. Machis play significant roles in Mapuche religion. Women are more commonly machis than men.-Description:...

(Mapuche Medicine Woman).

Cryptozoology

In Chile, this word "Peuchen" also designates to the Common Vampire Bat

Common Vampire Bat

The Common Vampire Bat is a small leaf-nosed bat native to the Americas. It is one of three extant species of vampire bat, the other two being the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat and the White-winged Vampire Bat. Along with them, it is the only parasitic mammal. It mainly feeds on the blood of livestock...

 (Desmodus rotundus); so some cryptozoologists believe that "Common Vampire Bat" is the origin of the legend, however other cryptozoologists believe that the "Peuchen" could be related with the Chupacabra

Chupacabra

The chupacabras is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico , Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities...

 or be the same Cryptid

Cryptid

In cryptozoology and sometimes in cryptobotany, a cryptid is a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but is unrecognized by scientific consensus and often regarded as highly unlikely. Famous examples include the Yeti in the Himalayas and the Loch Ness Monster in...

.

See also

• Colo Colo
  Colo Colo (mythology)
  The Colo Colo or Colocolo, is a malignant creature of Mapuche mythology.-Legend:The Colo Colo's aspects differ slightly according to which zone of Chile. In Mapuche the Colo Colo has a serpent form with legs, similar to a long rat with feathers...
  
  
• Basilisco chilote
  Basilisco Chilote
  The Basilisco chilote is a creature from Chilota mythology originating the Chiloé Archipelago, in southern Chile.The Basislico chilote is described as having the crest of a rooster and the body of a serpent. It is hatched from an egg that is incubated by a rooster and lives in hole which it digs...
  
  
• Chupacabra
  Chupacabra
  The chupacabras is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico , Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities...
  
  
• Chonchon
  Chonchon
  For other uses, see Chonchon The Chonchon is a mythical bird from Mapuche religion also present in Chilean and southern Argentinan folk myth.-Legend:...
  
  
• Sigbin
  Sigbin
  The Sigbin or Sigben is a creature in Philippine mythology said to come out at night to suck the blood of victims from their shadows. It is said to walk backwards with its head lowered between its hind legs, and to have the ability to become invisible to other creatures, especially humans...
  
  
• Wak Wak
• Tanuki
  Tanuki
  is the common Japanese name for the Japanese raccoon dog . They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times...