Qalupalik
Field Report
Qalupalik is a haunting figure from Inuit folklore, described as a humanoid sea creature with greenish skin, long hair, and elongated fingernails, said to dwell beneath ice flows and rocky Arctic shores. It’s infamous for snatching away children who wander too close to water, pulling them into the frigid depths to live forever beneath the sea. Some legends claim they wear amautiit (traditional Inuit baby parkas) to carry away their captives. Though clearly a cultural cautionary tale designed to keep youngsters from dangerous icy edges, occasional stories from hunters speak of strange shadows or ripples under thin ice. The Qalupalik endures in Arctic storytelling as a chilling personification of the deadly cold, merging parental warnings with primal dread of what lurks beneath.
Classification
Type:Aquatic Spirit
Location:Canada, Nunavut, Hudson Bay
Traits:Greenish skin, long dark hair, scaly, sharp nails, humanoid features.
Threat Assessment
Danger Level: 7
First Reported: pre-1800s
Sightings: 20
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Behavioral Patterns
It floats just beneath thin ice, tapping softly from below. If feet cross overhead, it drifts closer, following with slow, curious grace.
Folklore & Origins
Inuit lore describes them as icy sea witches stealing children who stray from village rules.
Media Documentation
Featured heavily in Inuit folklore books and occasionally spotlighted in Canadian cultural exhibitions. Pops up in northern tourism marketing focused on Arctic legends. No scientific articles reference it.
Hoax Analysis
Qalupalik is a cryptid from Inuit folklore with no documented hoax attempts. It is generally considered a mythic cultural figure.