Curupira

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The Curupira is a male supernatural being which guards the forest in Tupi mythology.

He usually takes the form of a boy with (literally) flaming hair and green teeth. Its most startling characteristic, however, is that its feet are turned to face backwards.

Its raison d'être is to protect the forest from the destructive habits of man. It happily tolerates those who hunt for food but is infuriated by those who hunt for the pleasure of it and will lay traps and confuse them so that they become eternally lost in the forest. Its backward feet, for example, have the effect of confusing hunters who may try to follow its tracks.

The Curupira blends many features of West-African and European fairies but was usually regarded as a demoniac figure.

[edit] Pop Culture References

The TV series BeastMaster features a female version of Curupira played by Emilie de Ravin. Aside from gender and hair color, the representation is faithful to the description above, including the backward feet and the fierce protectiveness toward the forest and forest creatures.