This book, as lavish as a medieval bestiary, is dedicated to fauna real and otherworldly. Why have animals always been a source of fascination for us? How have increasingly diverse forms emerged since ancient times, along with the myths, legends, and superstitions surrounding them? Why have animals entered world culture as magical and sacred symbols? Why have humans used them in magical practices? Chimeras, mermaids, anthropomorphic monsters, and werewolves are the main characters in this diverse and captivating catalog compiled by Roberto Marchesini, a renowned Italian zooanthropologist.