Mesoamerican Bestiary [Monster Thursday]

Starting to really get into some old cultures and decided to first dive into Mesoamerica... - Stephen 

There are tons of great monsters buried in the ancient past that just don't get a spotlight since they weren't in the first few editions of Dungeons & Dragons. One of the ones I've been looking at recently is from Mesoamerica, along with some further to the south like the Inca empire. A few of them here today are well known, like the chupacabra (who is actually from the 90s, not really ancient), while others are a bit obscure like the chanakeh. The lore I provide with each one uses the monster's original lore, from what I can find, but only uses it as a launching off place to fit it into a fantasy world.

Ahuizotl (CR 3) Known as a water dog, these creatures love to swim around in rivers and lakes, then using their hand on the end of their tail, grab fishermen and drag them into the water where they drown and devour them. They were once considered guardians but now have been cursed since they abandoned their duties long ago.

Chanakeh (CR 1/2) Known as forest spirits, they do everything they can to avoid notice. But sometimes that isn't enough, and reveal themselves to trespassers who would try to defile their forest. They were said to be able to steal a person's soul, and then bury it in the forest. If a special ritual wasn't made, to appease the chanakeh, the person would eventually die from a wasting sickness.

Chupacabra (CR 2) A recent monster that only came into folklore in the 90s, it is said to be a horrific dog-like creature that drains the blood out of sheep. In a fantasy world, this type of vampirism is quite concerning for sages, as it might be one of the first times that the vampire-curse has crossed the lines from humanoid to beast.

Nagual (CR 6) Shapechangers who can turn in and out of being a humanoid and jaguar, many see them as being touched by fiends. While it isn't true, no one is quite sure where their power came from. It jumps bloodlines, appears where there has been no history of its touch before, and even those gifted with this power don't often pass it down to their heirs. Many of the nagual use their talents to become protectors and guardians, though some go bad and end up being bandits and cultists.

Wihwin (CR 4) Demonic horses with rows of sharp teeth who swallow creatures in a bite, they are most often found in the Abyss, but have begun showing up in lakes, rivers, and even on top of mountains. They love catching creatures and then spending days digesting the creature whole.