In my quest to find all the monsters, cryptids, and creatures out there…I find some weird stuff. FOr instance in Brazil, they have the Capelobo. As it is pictured in the title image, you can see that this anthropomorphized version of a giant anteater has developed a taste for larger and more “heady” fare.

This was originally drawn as a 9×12 brush pen drawing on watercolor paper. It was a lot of fun, and I drew it very freely.

Now I am including it in my Ukiyo A collection over at Fortean Giftorium in a digitally remastered version. If you have missed out, Ukiyo A is my spin on Ukiyo E. Not woodblock, but keeps the spirit through inexpensive printing that is priced for normal people to enjoy art…and of course, my subject matter is all about the floating world…what do you think the whole Uthar Werld thing over at Relevant Irreverence is all about anyway?

For those interested in cryptid lore, here is what my brobot had to say about the Capebelo.

Capelobo: The Brain-Drinking Cryptid of the Amazon

Taxonomy & Classification

• Type: Cryptid / Folkloric Beast
• Origin: Amazonian Mythology (Brazil)
• Habitat: Dense jungles, riverbanks, and isolated villages
• Behavior: Predatory, nocturnal, territorial

Description

The Capelobo is a horrifying creature from Brazilian folklore, often described as a fusion of man and beast, walking the blurred line between cryptid and nightmare. It is said to be a large, bipedal humanoid with the head of an anteater or a tapir, covered in thick, matted fur. Its elongated snout conceals a grotesque feeding tube used to suck the brains and blood of its prey—most often young men, lone travelers, or weakened villagers who stray too far into the jungle.

Legends speak of the Capelobo’s supernatural strength, its ability to move silently despite its hulking frame, and an eerie, almost human intelligence behind its small, sunken eyes. Some say it is a cursed soul, others claim it is a remnant of an ancient race of creatures lost to time. Whatever it is, those who see it rarely live to tell the tale.

Behavior & Folklore

• Nocturnal Predator: The Capelobo emerges at night, lurking in the dense rainforest shadows, stalking its prey with unsettling patience.
• Hunting & Feeding: It is believed to suck out the brains of its victims through their skulls, leaving their bodies slumped and lifeless, drained of all thought and memory.
• Supernatural Abilities: Said to vanish without a trace, it leaves no footprints behind, making it impossible to track. Some claim it can sense fear and despair, drawn to those who have lost their way.
• Cursed Origins: Some folklore suggests the Capelobo is not a natural creature, but a shapeshifter or a transformed human, cursed for their sins.

Possible Explanations & Sightings

Cultural Interpretation:

The Amazon is a land steeped in dark folklore (dark folklore, Amazon legend), where creatures like the Curupira and the Mapinguari already haunt the minds of locals. The Capelobo may be an extension of these fears, a warning against wandering too far from home after dark.

Cryptozoological Theories:

Some Fortean researchers (Fortean art, cryptid art) have speculated that the Capelobo could be an unknown species, a surviving relic of prehistoric megafauna. Others tie it to Amazonian anteaters, creatures known for their incredible strength and elongated skulls. Could the legend stem from encounters with giant, aggressive anteaters in the past?

Eyewitness Accounts:

Reports of mutilated bodies drained of blood and gray matter (horror illustration, jungle horror) have surfaced in rural Brazilian communities for centuries. Hunters and fishermen claim to have seen a shadowy figure moving unnaturally fast between the trees, and strange high-pitched calls have been recorded in remote regions.

Cultural Impact & Artistic Interpretation

The Capelobo’s chilling presence has inspired artists and cryptid enthusiasts alike (urban legend, mythical beast, folklore creature). Its monstrous form appears in everything from tattoos to digital dark art (dark mythology, ink horror), and its brain-drinking habits make it a staple of macabre art and horror illustration.

This legendary predator has also crossed over into Japanese-inspired styles like Ukiyo A (eerie art, macabre art), a raw, expressive counterpart to the more refined Ukiyo E. Unlike the traditional decorative art of Japanese folklore, Ukiyo A embraces chaotic ink strokes and emotional storytelling, making it the perfect medium for depicting a being as terrifying and surreal as the Capelobo.

Modern-Day Interpretations

While sightings remain unconfirmed, the legend of the Capelobo continues to spread beyond the Amazon. Its grotesque feeding habits have even led some to compare it to other brain-feasting cryptids like the Wendigo or Chupacabra (horror collector, monster drawing, nightmarish, supernatural art).

Whether a feral creature from the depths of the rainforest or a nightmare given form, the Capelobo’s legacy of horror lives on, immortalized in folklore, art, and terrifying campfire stories (death lore, digital dark art, haunting illustration).

Dare to Face the Capelobo?

StepBastard’s Capelobo Brainfeast print captures this nightmare in stunning horror print and gothic ink style. Add this eerie illustration to your collection and bring home a piece of grim fantasy and surreal horror (grim fantasy, surreal horror, yokai art).

Get yours before it vanishes into the jungle forever.