The natives of Mapuche origin that lived in the island of Chiloé in Chile, had a particular myth involving a gigantic worm, the piruqina.
Its name in Mapuche language means "Piru" = worm, "Quina" = lineage.
The Giant Red Worm
It was mentioned by Augusta in 1916, and Ramírez wrote about it again in 1995:
"It is a gigantic snake that takes more than 25 years to develop completely, and then it emerges from deep beneath the ground producing a strong earthquake. First its head appears, then it opens its enormous eyes, and if anyone is within reach of its gaze it will die instantly. Once the Piruquina has reached the surface, the scales of its body change color from an intense red to a darker, earth-like color. Finaly it disintegrates, and in the place where it appeared as traces of its presence remain dark worms."
According to Villagrán and Videla (source) this myth reflects the volcanic nature of Southern Chile, and it describes the appearance of a stream of red hot lava that then solidifies and darkens as it cools on the surface. The tremors of a volcanic eruption, and the risk of death for those who get to close to it.
There is a place in Chiloé named Piruquina (see it in Google maps). There is one species of snake in Chiloé, the short-tailed snake (culebra de cola corta), Tachymenis chilensis, which is barely 70 cm long (2.3 ft.) and it isn't red.
Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia Copyright 2009-2025 by Austin Whittall ©
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