Jobar is a giant camel-like monster from the folklore of the Tuareg people in Niger. It is said to eat children who misbehave or wander from their camp.
- Jobar is a camel-like monster from Tuareg folklore in Niger.
- It is a boogeyman that eats naughty or wandering children.
- The dinosaur Jobaria was named after this legendary beast.
- Fossils were found near rocks showing evidence of a flood.
What it is
Jobar is a creature from the oral traditions of the Tuareg people in Niger. Described as a giant beast resembling a camel, it serves as a boogeyman figure. The entity is believed to prey on naughty children and those who stray from their camp.
Where it comes from
The name Jobar was given to the dinosaur Jobaria because its bones were found eroding out of rocks in Niger. These fossils were identified as belonging to the legendary Jobar. Geological evidence suggests a flood occurred at the site, which aligns with folklore stating that Jobars died in a flood.
Jobar, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
What it is for
The story of Jobar functions as a disciplinary tool within Tuareg communities. Parents use the fear of the monster to keep children close to the camp and discourage wandering or misbehavior.
Peoples and places
The legend is specific to the Tuareg people of Niger. The connection between the myth and paleontology arose when fossil hunters recognized the animal remains as matching the description of the local monster.
At a glance: who, where and when
Peoples
Questions people ask about Jobar
What is Jobar?
Jobar is a giant camel-like monster from the folklore of the Tuareg people in Niger. It is described as a boogeyman that eats naughty children.
Where does the legend come from?
The legend originates from the Tuareg culture in Niger. The story involves a monster that preys on children who stray from their camp.
Why is there a dinosaur named Jobaria?
Paleontologists named the dinosaur Jobaria after the Tuareg monster Jobar. The bones were found eroding out of rocks in Niger.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Jobar (monster)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-12.
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