Mapinguari

The Mapinguari is a legendary creature from Brazilian Amazonian folklore, described as a giant, hairy, bipedal creature with a single enormous eye in the center of its forehead, a gaping mouth in its belly, and backward-facing feet that confuse trackers. The Mapinguari is said to be a ferocious defender of the Amazon rainforest who attacks loggers, hunters, and anyone who destroys the jungle. Its name means the roaring animal or the stinking one in Tupi, and it is said to emit a terrible, overwhelming stench that can knock a person unconscious. Some Amazonian elders claim the Mapinguari was once a shaman who violated tribal taboos and was cursed to wander the forest as a monster.