Lots of tricksters exist around the world. In the Americas they probably had the status of gods (albeit dysfunctional) until they were demoted by christian missionaries. Too bad--they had a lot to teach when they were more than just clowns. Coyote probably covers the largest territory in North America, but a list of other tricksters includes the raven, crow, rabbit, squirrel, and bluejay. Kokopelli is a trickster, but he's in human form (the one with the hunchback).

Wole Soyinka (a Nobel prize laureate in literature) from Nigeria has written some very interesting stuff about African tricksters.

One of my favorite road songs is Ed McCurdy singing about the Santa Fe trail. See this sampler and look for 19. Along Side of the Santa Fe Trail - Ed McCurdy.

SRS