In Tewa mythology, the horned water serpent deity is called Avanyu.
Avanyu, also written Awanyu, is a Tewa water guardian and deity traditionally represented as a horned or plumed serpent. Its winding body evokes the flow of rivers and the zigzag of lightning, linking the being to water, storms, and the protection of Pueblo communities.
Images of Avanyu appear in Southwestern Indigenous art, especially pottery and rock art. Archaeological representations date back to about 1000 CE in Mimbres material, with later examples appearing in Mogollon, Casa Grande, and Tewa-speaking areas. Stories and interpretations vary, but the serpent is commonly associated with waterways, rainfall, floods, and the interconnectedness of underground and surface waters.
The name is easy to confuse with related Pueblo horned-serpent traditions. Kolowisi is a Zuni name, while Paaloloqangw is associated with Hopi tradition. Mishipeshu is an underwater being in Anishinaabe traditions, and Uktena belongs to Cherokee tradition. These figures share aquatic or serpentine traits but are not the Tewa name.