Creatures ( Skyrim ) The following is a detailed list of creatures found in , as well as all of its expansions . For humanoid enemies , see this page . Animals . Domesticated animals . Domesticated animals are usually found in camps , villages , cities or occasionally wandering about alone . If these animals are harmed or stolen ( in the case of horses ) , the Dragonborn will earn a bounty in that hold or city . Note that the player can ride the horse . Wild predators . Wild predators are usually hostile ( or neutral at a certain distance ) . Wild prey . Wild prey are usually not hostile unless attacked or if one gets to close . Insects . There are many insects in the game . Some can be eaten ; others are useful alchemy ingredients . Fish . Fish are useful as food or alchemy ingredients . The only hostile fish is the Slaughterfish . Chaurus . Chaurus are worm - like insectoid creatures that typically live underground in caves and even in Dwemer ruins . They are deadly creatures , possessing the ability to spit out poisonous venom from their mouths , but they also use bite attacks during combat . Chaurus are almost always seen with Falmer in the underground cave networks and Dwemer ruins of Skyrim . The Chaurus appear to be used by the Falmer as pets and as fighters in combat , as well as torturers of people when their Falmer masters attack and capture bandits , traveling caravans and other people . Daedra . The Daedra are creatures that roam the Planes of Oblivion , and are usually summoned by powerful mages , usually of the Conjuration school . A Dremora is a devilish humanoid being wearing Daedric armor and wielding burning Daedric weaponry , but can also be extremely adept at using magic and casting spells . Atronach s are humanoid beings ( except the Storm Atronach ) that are formed out of their own element of power : Flame , Frost , or Storm . Dragons . Dragons are giant , legendary , reptilian creatures with the abilities to fly , Shout and breathe Fire or Frost . Draugr . Draugr are the reanimated bodies of deceased Nords , that are usually found in old dungeons and ancient Nordic ruins . Named Draugr . These bosses are legendary figures of Tamriel ic history that have been reanimated and are a few out of many enemies that the Dragonborn will encounter in Skyrim . Dwarven Automatons . Though Automatons are not entirely creatures , Dwarven Automatons range in size from smaller than a human to larger than a giant . They are golden colored , strong robotic creations made by the Dwemer . They are also extremely resistant to frost damage . They are very strong at lower levels but get easier . Falmer . The Falmer are a race of Mer who have devolved into primitive creatures inhabiting the dark underground and remote areas of Skyrim . They were once the Snow Elves until they lost a war with the Nords , forcing them to live underground with the Dwemer , who blinded and enslaved them . Frostbite Spiders . Frostbite Spiders are giant spiders found in caves and ruins all over Skyrim . They shoot balls of poisonous web , and can range in size from smaller than the Dragonborn to bigger . Giants . Giants are , as their name states , giant humanoid beings who cannot speak , instead yelling at the Dragonborn to move away if they get too close or threaten their mammoths . Hagravens . Hagravens are a mix of an old crone and a crow , and are exclusively female . They are often called witches , and many serve the Forsworn as Matriarchs . Horses . There are three named horses in Skyrim : Shadowmere , a black horse with red , glowing eyes ; Frost , a pale - gray horse that must be stolen to own ; and finally , Arvak , an undead horse added in . Shades . Shades are the ghostly and corrupted remnants of the deceased . Skeletons . Skeletons are skeletal , humanoid beings who usually use bows as their offense . Skeletons are extremely easy to defeat . Spriggans . Spriggan are tree - like humanoid creatures , always female . Matrons tend to be harder to defeat than the usual Spriggan , with their heavier armor and more powerful magics . They are guardians of nature , and specific groups follow either Kynareth or Meridia . Trolls . Trolls are large , ape - like creatures with three eyes , and their usual loot is only Troll Fat inside a bowl . Trolls inhabit most of Skyrim , but they are uncommon . Two types of trolls can be found , regular and Frost trolls . Frost trolls , as their name suggests , live in colder regions with snow . Wisps . Wisps are glowing , spherical creatures flying around that will attack the Dragonborn . They are usually near their mother , the Wispmother , who is a female , glowing humanoid being that is hard to defeat . Wispmothers are also resistant to Frost . Shades are creatures different to the creature type shades , as they are ghostly apparitions conjured by a Wispmother .