I’m writing a fantasy novel. What are some mythical creatures I can write about besides dragons? Give me a list of at least 10 options with some diversity so they’re not all from European mythology. Describe the creature’s physical attributes, magical abilities (if any) and what culture it comes from.
I can help with that! Here are some popular mythical creatures (excluding dragons): 

1. Manticore: This creature comes from Persian folklore and is similar to the Sphinx of Greek mythology, with a human head on a lion’s body and a tail covered in poisonous spines like porcupine quills.
2. Thunderbird: This legendary creature from North American Indigenous mythology is an enormous bird with wings so large, their flapping causes the sound of thunder.
3. Yeti: Originating in Nepalese folklore, the Yeti is a tall, fur-covered, ape-like creature who wanders the Himalayan mountains. 
4. Ghoul: A ghoul is a monstrous creature that haunts graveyards and feasts on human flesh. This creature comes from Arabian mythology. 
5. Werewolf: This creature has a human body but can shapeshift into the body of a wolf with the change typically triggered by the rising of a full moon. Some versions of the werewolf can be found in mythology and folklore from almost every culture in the world. 
6. Mermaid: While many are most familiar with the mermaids and sirens or European and Ancient Greek & Roman mythology, belief in some version of a fish-human hybrid creature exists in every major culture throughout the world.
7. Griffin: With the body, legs, and tail of a lion and the wings, head, and talons of an eagle, the Griffin comes from Ancient Egyptian mythology.
8. Longma: This creature comes from Chinese mythology. It has the body of a horse with wings and the scaled skin of a dragon. 
9. Cipactli: This sea monster of Aztec mythology has a body that is part frog, part fish, and part crocodile. 
10. Leviathan: This sea monster of Jewish mythology is known for its gargantuan size. 
11. Oozlum Bird: This mythical bird of Australian folkloric origins is said to fly backward, and when startled, may fly in backward circles until it actually disappears by flying up its own backside. It may also be called the "ouzel-um bird." 
12. Rusalka: From Slavic mythology, the Rusalka is a feminine water spirit that is typically malicious toward humans but benevolent to other life forms in nature. 
13. Unicorn: This horse-like creature with a single horn protruding from its head is popularly associated with Medieval European folklore, but it appears in earlier artworks from Mesopotamia, China, and India, making its location of origin difficult to pin down. 
14. Kitsune: These mythical foxes from Japanese folklore can be benevolent or malevolent tricksters with high levels of intelligence, the ability to shapeshift, far longer lifespans than regular foxes, and sometimes the ability to see the past and future. 
15. Sirin: From Russian mythology, this creature has the chest and head of a woman resting atop the body of a bird.