katáo

A fabulous creature, described as a sea monster with the upper body of a human. The wrath of a land katáo is more dangerous than that of a kolisáo and it can cause headache, an itchy skin disease, fever, or even death.

They can befriend fishermen and the hair of a katáo attached to the hook of a fisherman is a powerful charm for catching fish. Although the creature does not sing, the Visayans say it repeats what it hears.

References

Source

  • Hart, Donn V., et al. (1965). Southeast Asian birth customs: three studies in human reproduction. Human Relations Area Files, pp. 16, 83.