Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
M9A — Turning into a tree frog
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewA character who eagerly sucks honey from a hollow and/or gets stuck in a hollow turns into a tree frog. See M9 motif.
Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
M9 has 1 other sub-motifs
RelatedM9. The character puts his head or hand in a hollow or (rarely) another hole), gets stuck in it, or falls into a hollow. Usually, as a result, the character dies or undergoes a metamorphosis.
M9a. A character who eagerly sucks honey from a hollow and/or gets stuck in a hollow turns into a tree frog. See M9 motif.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| F19 | 100.00% | After copulating with a frog, a man's penis is crippled (unless otherwise stated: it becomes long, see motif F18A). |
| B56 | 99.99% | The crocodile/caiman is left without a tongue after swallowing or losing the fire (which it previously possessed); something associated with heavenly fire (lightning, sunbeams, etc.) emerges from the crocodile's severed tongue. |
| A1A | 99.59% | Before the sun appeared, the world was lit by a large bird with bright colours (a parrot or toucan). |
| A26 | 99.59% | The bird embodies the sun, daylight; it can be caught, released, killed. |
| B25 | 99.59% | Characters who climb trees or vines and then fall turn into wild pigs or other game animals. |
| B75D | 99.59% | The sound of leaves or grass rustling in the wind has been heard since the time of creation. |
| F29A | 99.59% | To kill a woman's lover, who has the appearance of a worm or snake and crawls into her vagina from under the ground, boiling water, resin or hot coals are poured on him. |
| J12C | 99.59% | A girl meets her fiancé at a dance and then follows in his footsteps. See motif J12. |
| K8F | 99.59% | The swallowed one discovers a living deer in the belly of the monster. See motif K8A. |
| I54 | 99.27% | Inside a snake or other aquatic creature are aquatic animals or live fish; an aquatic monster gives birth to fish, is the master of fish; turns into many fish. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Traditions
9 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 9 traditions: Warao, Wayapi, Emerillon, Mai Huna (Coto, Orejon), Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Kofan, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Matses (Mayoruna)
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How to cite: Fielder-White, J. (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
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