Carbuncle (legendary creature)

Carbuncle (Spanish: carbunclo, carbunco; Portuguese: carbúnculo) is a legendary species of small animal in South American folklore, specifically in Paraguay or the mining folklore of northern Chile.

The animal is said to have a red shining mirror, like hot glowing coal, on its head, thought to be a precious stone. The animal was called Añagpitán (emended spelling) in the Guarani language according to Barco Centenera who wrote an early record about pursuing the beast in Paraguay. There are other attestations for anhangapitã from the Tupi-Guranani speaking populations in Brazil.

To the colonial Spaniards and Portuguese, the creature was a realization of the medieval lore that a dragon or wyvern concealed a precious gem in its brain or body (cf. § Early accounts).