Shantaks, or Shantak-birds, are creatures from H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos.
Description[]
Enormous birds larger than any elephant, Shantaks have a slimy, reptilian skin, a pair of membranous, bat-like wings and a head which is said to resemble that of a horse. They are known to inhabit the Cold Wastes region of Earth's Dreamlands, where they are sometimes used as mounts by the denizens of that strange land, although they are deeply fearful of the Nightgaunts which also live there.
Many Shantaks are known to serve the Outer God Nyarlathotep, and many more can be found in the service of the Great Old One Ithaqua, but the Shantaks of the Dreamlands (amongst other creatures) are frequently ridden down and killed for sport by the Elder God Nodens, possibly explaining their fear of Nightgaunts; in the Dreamlands, Nightgaunts serve as the hunting-dogs of Nodens.