Cherruve the Mapuche fire—comet creature

The "lights" on Lake Nahuel Huapi (posted yesterday) reminded me of a Patagonian entity that I mentioned in the Spanish version of my book's second edition (I added it after writing and publishing the English version of the 2^nd Edition), the Cherruve.

Cherruve is a mythical entitiy of the Mapuche people. It has been described with different features, with sharp contrasts and in different ways depending on the chronicler who depicts it. For some, it was a wild man, like the chilludo (a hairy hominin). But, it had many representations.

Cherruve as a dragon

Lenz, in his Araucanian Studies, also refers to the Cherruve, which appears in various Mapuche folktales adopting different forms. In one case, it is a “sea monster that comes back to life when thrown into the water”; in another, it is a dragon with seven heads.

Lenz believes that the natives fully assimilated tales from “European folk literature” and it seemed to him “beyond doubt that the Cherruve […] is none other than the famous dragon of Indo-Germanic mythology, [sic] that devastates the land until it is vanquished by the hero with supernatural strength whose name and lineage, be it Heracles, Beowulf, Siegfried or Huenchumir, are of little consequence.” and that “the famous volcano monster, the Cherruve: so often was it nothing more than the European giant [sic], dragon or sorcerer in disguise.”

The Cherruv or Cherrufe, according to Guevara, could resemble a dragon that lived near volcanoes. It is also a destructive being: “it almost exterminated [sic], they say, those bread men,” the Kofkeches dwarf people of the Arauco region. However, it also has human traits: a house, a wife, a daughter, a servant, and a flock of sheep. It is a multifaceted being.

As a Fireball - Meteor - Comet

Meteor fireball

In its most primitive aspect, it was a deity associated with comets or meteorites. Father Félix de Augusta mentions it in his dictionary as “cheurfe, cheurfue, cheurpue, a fiery phenomenon known as a ‘fireball’.”

According to Lenz, in its origin, “this monster corresponds to the will-o'-the-wisp. ” The English name comes from "Will with a wisp", where Will is the name of a folk-figure who was a joker, and wisp is a torch or a bundle of straw. Its Spanish name Fuego fatuo" name originated from the Latin words ignis fatuus (“foolish flame”). This is a natural phenomenon in which small, pale flames are produced by the combustion of gases, such as methane, in contact with oxygen in the air. These gases are produced by the decomposition of certain organic materials, particularly in cemeteries and marshy areas. They are seen more clearly at night, and superstition associates them with goblins or other creatures.

Lenz mentions that Febrés and Valdivia related the cherruve to “the comet and the fiery exhalations seen at night.” Havestadt, for his part, defines it as “Cheurvoe: comet.” Possibly alluding to St. Elmo's fire, a natural phenomenon which can take place during thunder storms or volcanic eruptions, when a strong electric charge excites the electrons in the atmosphere close to the tips of branches, masts on vessels or high spots, creating plasma that shines with a pale luminosity.

Finally, Lenz suggests that “it is evidently a personification of the power of fire, like the Pillan; probably lightning, the fire of volcanoes reflected in the clouds.” In the tales he compiled, he appears with a telluric face: he breathes fire from his mouth, causes earthquakes when he sits on the rocks, and his house is on the summit of a volcano.

It could be linked to the mysterious earthquake lights spotted in the Andes in Patagonia, a tellurian, geologic phenomenon, or to lightning balls.

Before continuing with my series on Denisovans, Neanderthals, and the introgressed MUC19 gene, I will add one more post about a strange ball of light photographed by the University of Magallanes last year, close to Punta Arenas, Chile, close to the ground, which tripped one of their remote, movement-activated trail cameras, which may represent a phenomenon that originated the Cherruve myth.

Sources

Augusta F. (1916). Diccionario Araucano - Español y Español - Araucano. Santiago. Impr. Universitaria. p. 21.
Guevara T. (1925). Historia de Chile: Chile prehispano. Santiago: Balcell. Chapter I.
Lenz R. (1895-97). Estudios Araucanos. Santiago, pp. 222, 235, 256, 271, 277, 326.
Havestadt B. (1883). Chilidúgu sive Tractatus linguae chilensis.

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Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia Copyright 2009-2026 by Austin Whittall © 

Patagonia Day - October 11 and the Welsh Dragon

 

October 11, Patagonia Day.

Soon, on October 11^th we will commemorate the "Día de la Patagonia" (Patagonia Day).

The date was chosen because on that same day, in 1878, the Argentine Congress passed the law N° 954 that created the "Gobernación de la Patagonia", a National Territory that covered all Patagonia, from the Negro and Neuquén rivers to Cape Horn, with the Andes to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

It marked the formal inclusion of this vast territory as part of Argentina.

After the military campaigns against the Mapuche groups in La Pampa (Ranqueles and Neuquén (Pehuenches, Picunches, Manzaneros the northern parts of Patagonia were occupied between 1879 and 1881) and cities sprung up along the coast and further inland. In 1884 another law was approved which split up the Patagonian Territory into its current provinces (in those days they were National Territories as they lacked population and resources to be autonomous provinces): Río Negro, Neuquén, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego.

Welsh in Patagonia

Further south, since 1865, there was a Welsh colony authorized by the Argentine government located at the mouth of the Chubut River, and in Santa Cruz, a small settlement had been established by Luis Piedrabuena at the mouth of the Santa Cruz River.

The Welsh had arrived looking for tolerance and the Argentine authorities granted them the land they needed. They are an estimated 25,000 members in the Welsh-Argentine community in Patagonia of which between 1,500 and 5,000 still speak Welsh.

The flag adopted by the Welsh community in Chubut is shown below, it blends the Welsh red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch)with the Argentine flag. So, here we have a new "Dragon" for our list of Patagonian creatures, one which came from Wales.

So on October 11^th, as my fellow countrymen of Welsh origin may say: "Welcome to Patagonia" (in Welsh: croeso i Patagonia).

Patagonian Welsh Flag.

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Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia

2010 International Year of Biodiversity Copyright 2009-2010 by Austin Whittall © 

"Patagonian Dragon" the Andiperla willinki

 

Andiperla willinki is a very rate insect belonging to the order of Plecoptera, commonly known as stoneflies. Its common name is "Patagonian Dragon" (I do not know why).

They are widely distributed around the world and over 1,500 species have been recorded. They are winged insects and belong to one of the most primitive groups of this kind of insect.

Andiperla willinki "Patagonian Dragon". From [6]

Today we are posting about one of these, belonging to the Gripopterygiidae family, the Andiperla willinki or Patagonian Dragon was first described in 1956 by French biologist Aubert Willink, based on a specimen found at the Upsala Glacier in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.[1] (More on Patagonian glaciers Here.)

This creature is indeed incredible because, unlike the other members of the order, (which are winged insects), this one is wholly apterous (has no wings), it does not need them as it is well adapted to its very special environment.[2]

Furthermore it also lacks ocelli (tiny eyes) but it has well developed eyes (large) which help it see in the dimly lit habitat that it has adapted to.[2]

Though it can be found under stones in the Southern Patagonian Andes up to a height of 1,000 m (3,300 ft.), [2] its most incredible environment is the Southern Ice fields in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Recently it has also been found in other lakes and glaciers close by such as Moreno and Viedma and in Paine, Chile.

Andiperla willinki "Patagonian Dragon". From [4]

This tiny insect barely 20 mm long (0.8 in.) it lives its whole life within the ice of the Glaciers of the Souhtern Ice Field. It eats the tiny algae that live in the ice.

To avoid freezing, its body has a natural anti-freeze based on glycerol (similar to what is used in our car’s cooling systems to avoid it bursting when temperatures drop below freezing point).

They have the peculiarity of lacking empodia (tiny claws at the tip of their legs), a feature found only in one other stonefly species in the whole world, the R. nudipes. This may be due to the fact that both species live in cold mountainous areas and the lack of empodia may help them conserve heat in their frigid habitat.[5]

A French documentary team found it in the icy water at the Chilean National Park of Torres del Paine, 40 m (130 ft.) below the surface in a crevasse filled with freezing water.[3]

Little is known of them, and further study is necessary.

Bibliography.

[1] Willink, Aubert (1956). Plécoptére nouveau des Andes de Patagonie. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 29 pp. 229-252.
[2] Mani, S., (1968). Ecology and biogeography of high altitude insects. Springer. v.4. pp.401.
[3] Documental filmado en patagonia chilena logra doble reconocimiento. 09.11.2005.
[4] Khoshima Laboratory.
[5] McLellan, I., D. Rakiuraperla nudipes McLellan 1977.
[6] Heckman, C., (2003). Encyclopedia of South American aquatic insects: Plecoptera. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dodrecht. pp.232


Copyright 2009 by Austin Whittall ©

Patagonian Monsters

Patagonian living dinosaurs

 

I have read countless books while researching mine. One of them, a charming dictionary on the language of the Patagonian natives (the Tehuelche groups) by the late Patagonian historian Rodolfo Casamiquela [1], has a map which in the Terra Magellanica (i.e. what is now Patagonia) shows a hunting party shooting at a couple of ñandú and some very strange animals.

Strange Patagonian beings on an ancient map. From [1].

There are two groups of these creatures , one on the upper left of the map, just above Villarica volcano and the other to the east of the Desaguadero River.

The first group has a dinosaur look with short front paws and long hind legs and a long neck. They look very “T-Rex” to me.

The second group, with a smaller head and long front legs has a “brontosaurus” look.

Of course, we all know that dinosaurs died over 65 million years ago. But isn’t it surprising that a XVI^th engraver drew these animals so clearly?

A few days ago I posted about Desceliers’ 1546 map, and did not include any comment regarding a small portion of it -which can be seen in the upper left corner of the map- because it was too far north to be a part of Patagonia. Today I will post the image, enlarged, (see below):

Detail of Desceliers 1546 World Map showing Dinosaur(?). From [2]

What is this amazing creature? It looks very reptilian, but does it have wings? is its head wraped around a tree trunk? Or is it the tail?

I love playing around with old maps!

Bibliography.

[1] Casamiquela, R., (2008). Diccionario Tehuelche. Va. Adelina: Patagonia Sur Libros.
[2] National Library of Australia. World maps. Early works to 1800. Facsimiles. Australia. Discovery and exploration. Call Number: MAP RM 567.

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Copyright 2009 by Austin Whittall ©

Patagonian Monsters

Desceliers 1546 map and its monsters

 

Detail of Desceliers 1546 World Map showing Patagonia. From [1]

Detail of Desceliers 1546 World Map showing a dragon(?). From [1]

Detail of Desceliers 1546 World Map showing Griffins(?). From [1]

The incomplete world map drawn in 1546 by Pierre Desceliers (1487-1553), is contemporary to Thevet's Succarath. Its formal name is Faictes a Arques par Pierre Desceliers presbe 1546 and you can see it online Here [1].

The map shows, in Patagonia, some strange animals which we have reproduced above. One of them appears to be a dragon while the other two are a pair of griffins, one of which is feasting on some animal that it has hunted.

Dragons are mentioned in several myths regarding Patagonian creatures, griffins on the other hand are only mentioned in one XVI^th century chronicle.

For instance, the mythical Nguruvilú (also known as Nirribilo, Ghyryvilu) was described in 1810 by Jesuit priest and naturalist, Juan Ignacio Molina as a reptililan “Dragon”:"in certain Chilean lakes, an enormous fish or dragon can be found".[2]

In the late 1800s, Federico Barberá, a military commander in the Argentine war against the Puelche natives, wrote that their word Yhuayfilú described a "Dragon (or fabulous monster)”.[3]

the Mapuche “Cherruv” or “Cherrufe”, which had many different representations and for some tribes it was “sphinx that blends the head of a man to the body of a “Culebrón”. Or, according to Guevara a hydra-like being: “a seven headed monster, a dragon that spews fire […] and lives close to volcanos”.[4]

The “Culebrón” (from the Spanish word for “big snake” or “dragon”), which the natives called “Füta Filu” (big snake) had differing appearances depending on the tribe and region. However most agreed that it was a fat stout snake with a mane of stiff hairs along its back.

Another mythical Mapuche being, "Epunamun” was depicted by Father Ovalle in his "Histórica Relación" as follows: “their Epunamon [sic] appeared to them in the form of a terrible dragon, casting fire out of his mouth, and his tail curled up”.[5]

Click for more information on Culebrón and Epunamun Here.

Outside of Patagonia, in the XV^th century, there were reports of a gigantic “condor-griffin” (the latter is a fantastic creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle). Cieza de León, a Spanish conquistador and chronicler noted that in Perú (1540s) there were “some very big condors that almost look like griffins; some attack lambs and small guanaco in the fields”.[6] Perhaps this creature extended its range into Patagonia.


Bibliography.

[1] National Library of Australia. World maps. Early works to 1800. Facsimiles. Australia. Discovery and exploration. Call Number: MAP RM 567.
[2] Molina, J., (1986). Ensayo sobre la historia Natural de Chile. Santiago: Ediciones Maule pp. 233.
[3] Barbará, F., (2000). Manual de la lengua pampa. B. Aires: Emecé. pp.59.
[4] Guevara, T., (1925). Historia de Chile: Chile prehispano. Santiago: Balcells. Chap. I.
[5] De Ovalle, A., (1646). Histórica Relación del Reyno de Chile…. Roma: Francisco Caballo. pp. 200.
[6] Cieza de León, P. Ballesteros, M. [Ed] (2000). La crónica del Perú (1553). Madrid: Dastin S. L. pp. 367-368.



Copyright 2009 by Austin Whittall ©

Patagonian Monsters