Zouwu

The Zouwu (sometimes written as ZouWu) is an unclassified creature of Chinese descent. It is said to resemble a "gigantic elephant-sized cat", and is "five-coloured". Following the guidelines for Ministry classification, this creature is likely XX or XXX. The creature is known in Chinese folklore among Muggles as a "legendary creature".

Newt Scamander encounters a Zouwu around March 1927, though curiously he does not mention it in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book. To Newt, the creature is just "like a big kitten", despite it being terrifying to most human beings.

Behind the Scenes

 * J. K. Rowling confirmed in an interview that this creature is based off Chinese mythology.
 * Originally, Eddie Redmayne revealed this creature in an interview, though fans misconstrued his pronunciation and assumed the beast's name to be "Taowu". This was later corrected by Chinese fans on Social Media.