Barjantu

Barjantu is a collective term used to describe a wide range of different creatures which are all noticeable for their size or the threat they might pose to humans: not all species of barjantu are aggressive or likely to attack humans, but even the most docile species is liable to damage property or cause accidental injuries to anybody unfortunate enough to get in their way.
Aerial barjantu The vast majority of creatures which take to the skies are small and light, as might be expected, and even the largest species of birds - bustards, cranes, eagles, eagle-owls, flamingos, herons, hornbills, peafowl, shoebills, storks, swans and vultures - pose no threat to humans or to domesticated livestock. The only true aerial barjantu are the various species of akashasak; in common parlance, dragons are also often labelled as barjantu, but as they are not mortal creatures, they are more correctly categorised as a type of spirit.
Marine barjantu A wide range of marine barjantu, most of which are not scared of humans and are almost impossible to spot before they breach the surface, make sea voyages difficult and dangerous; for this reason, most vessels will only skirt the coast. The most feared of these creatures is the man-eating norbhanjak. The vipugriva and sagrisur are not as aggressive, but can still overturn small boats (especially fishing vessels) when they appear from underneath, leaving sailors to face the other dangers of the sea; like the norbhanjak, but unlike the large fish which make up the bulk of their diets, the vipugriva and sagrisur return to the surface in order to breathe.
The largest species of shark and squid (and occasionally sea-turtle) are also classified as barjantu, although their smaller counterparts are not; some of these will attack and attempt to feed upon humans, while others are more likely to cause accidental destruction if they get caught in fishing nets. Tiger sharks are a very aggressive coastal species with an average length between 14ft and 16ft; shortfin sharks prefer deeper waters, and attack their prey from below; adults average 12ft in length. Ragged-tooth sharks are a shallow-water species which can reach 10ft in length; river sharks swim in freshwater rivers as well as saltwater coastal areas, and reach lengths of around 6ft to 8ft. Basking sharks are the largest species of shark by far, with adults averaging 25ft in length, but survive on a diet of very small sea-creatures and are generally docile and slow-moving; thresher sharks are also a fairly docile species, approximately 10ft in length as adults, which have distinctive long tails that are used to whip prey and competitors. Giant squid live in the ocean depths (including in colder areas of the world), and encounters with them are rare; but there are stories of giant squid attacking sailing vessels in some rare cases, and the remains which occasionally wash up on shore suggest an adult length of up to 40ft. Leatherbacks are the largest species of sea-turtle, and are named after their soft shell; adults are between 6ft and 9ft long, and can weigh over 100 stone, but they hunt in deep waters and rarely encounter humans.
Terrestrial barjantu
Reptiles The largest reptilian barjantu are the lumbagal and vishajambh. Lumbagal are large quadrupedal herbivores which can live for up to 80 years, and keep growing throughout their lives (albeit much more slowly once they have reached maturity they have large bodies, long thick tails (which can be used as weapons) and even longer necks, allowing them to eat tender leaves from the tops of trees. A fully-grown lumbagal can be 50ft long from head to tail, with their head lifted 15ft off the ground, and weigh over 1600 stone; their sheer size protects them against most predators, and this is augmented by bumpy thick skin with osteoderms reminiscent of crocodile skin. The vishajambh
Crocodiles are a major threat to anyone approaching the watering holes or swamplands where they rest, camouflaged, beneath the surface of the water. The largest (male) crocodiles can exceed 20ft in length and 180 stone in weight, and can be very aggressive and territorial; saltwater crocodiles tend to be slightly longer and heavier than their freshwater counterparts, and males are noticeably bigger than females. There are significant differences between crocodile species: for instance, the dwarf crocodile averages only 5.5ft in length and, like the fish-eating crocodile (which has an average length of between 8.5ft and 14.5ft for adult females, and between 10ft and 19.5ft for adult males), is not known to attack humans. 
There are also a number of large and dangerous species of snake: constrictors such as pythons and bhayanag, and venomous snakes such as cobras and mambas. Of these, the bhayanag is most notable - although with an average adult length 10ft to 12ft, it is smaller than many pythons, and it doesn't prey on humans - because most individuals are born with two heads and two digestive tracts, and live normal lives in this way. The bhayanag seems to have a limited capacity to swallow large prey (compared to other snakes of a similar size), and tends to hunt the young of other species of terrestrial barjantu, particularly lumbagal and vishajambh hatchlings; two-headed individuals can consume two such hatchlings in quick succession.

Mammals There are a number of large cats which can prove a threat to human life if provoked, and which can also be a danger to livestock: lions, tigers, cheetahs and different species of leopard (including snow leopards and clouded leopards). Hyenas and wolves are known to attack travellers moving alone or in small groups through their territory, and are particularly dangerous when hunting as a pack. In contrast, lynxes, wild dogs and cats, jackals and foxes are no more dangerous to people or property than their domesticated cousins. Like most apes and monkeys, the largest ape (the chimpanzee) is not dangerous to humans; but the second-largest ape, the ghoul, is considered a barjantu because it is known to attack and feast on travellers. 
Ghouls are slightly smaller than male chimpanzees, averaging just under five feet tall, and have no fur on their faces or forearms; they are primarily scavengers, and are known to dig-up buried bodies in graveyards, but they will also work together to ambush and kill humans for food. Ghouls are smarter than many other animals and capable of using tools and setting fires to attract humans at night; they are also known to dress in the clothes of human victims to appear more human themselves, and to make a cry like that of a lost or injured child, in order to encourage human prey to get closer. 
The suparnasin is a large carnivorous beast with a body resembling a lion, a face resembling that of a human, and feathered wings which allow it to fly or glide over short distances. It has an unusual ability to mimic the sounds of human speech and animal noises (although it does any particular ability to truly learn or comprehend human languages), which it uses to lure prey into an ambush: it appears to have evolved specifically to hunt humans, but will also eat a wide range of smaller birds and mammals. Suparnasin hunt in pairs or small prides, and hide fierce sharp teeth in their human-looking mouths, attacking prey with bites and claw attacks, and sometimes flying off with smaller prey gripped in their front paws or mouth to consume at their leisure. Different types of suparnasin are found in different regions. The bearded suparnasin is largest: by the time it matures (at about 3 years old), it can have a head and body length of 12ft, and stand 7ft high at the shoulder; it is named for the thick mane, resembling a beard and full head of hair, which grows within the first year of its life and is found in male and female beasts alike. The spiked supernasin is a closely-related species with quills on its tail and hindquarters which can be used as a weapon, detaching upon impact and regrowing over time. A smaller creature, which retains a thick mane but lacks the appearance of facial hair and is therefore known as the beardless suparnasin, is closer in size to an ordinary lion, reaching 4ft at the shoulder and having a head-and-body length of 7ft. A range of societies throughout history have attempted to tame suparnasin by raising them from cubs, with varying degrees of success, but the species has never been truly domesticated, and individual suparnasin have a tendency to revert to a wilder nature if not supplied with a regular diet of meat.
Camels, donkeys and horses are largely domesticated; hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, zebras and most species of antelope and deer are not. There are a number of species of large bear, but none is likely to attack people or livestock: the bamboo bear eats plants; the ant bear primarily eats ants and termites; and the sun bear and moon bear (each named for chest-markings) eat plants, insects and small birds and mammals, although their vicious claws can also do some serious damage if they are forced to defend themselves against larger creatures. Similarly, male boars can be dangerous when provoked, but neither they - nor the domesticated pigs related to them - are generally considered to count as barjantu. The largest deer are the sambar, the red deer and the swamp deer; the largest species of antelope are the sable and roan antelope, the waterbuck and various species of oryx. Some of these animals have large antlers or horns, but they are far more likely to run from humans than to attack.
Although it is a little smaller, the docile ekalsing deer is also worth mentioning in this context. This unusual species is usually either white or light grey in colour, with striking blue eyes, and has a single spiralling antler - usually covered in pinkish velvet - rising out of the middle of its forehead. Unusually, even female ekalsing have an antler, although it is much smaller (only a few inches long). The antler of the male ekalsing, which can be grown and shed two or three times in a year, can reach a foot and a half in length, and seems to be used purely for purposes of display, rather than for defense or combat. This antler can be sliced or ground down into a powder which increases strength and virility and helps people to recover from injuries faster; it is more potent if harvested while covered in velvet (a process which need not harm the creature), but naturally-shed antlers also have medicinal value.

Some of the fictional barjantu listed here are inspired by mythological creatures: the suparnasin is a version of the sphinx or manticore, while the ekalsing is a version of the unicorn. Other fictional barjantu are inspired by creatures from the late Cretaceous or early Eocene period of Earth's history.