Yale (mythical creature)
The yale or centicore (Latin: eale) is a mythical beast found in European mythology and heraldry.
The yale is described as an antelope- or goat-like creature with the tusks of a boar and large horns. These horns possess the ability to swivel in any direction which makes them good for both offensive and defensive attacks.
The yale was first written about by Pliny the Elder in Book VIII of his Natural History. He describes the eale as a creature found in Aethiopia:
Pliny reports sighting the yale while on the sub-Saharan African plains. The antelope and buffalo inhabit this region and loosely match his description, so may have given rise to his misunderstanding.
The yale subsequently featured in medieval bestiaries and heraldry.