According to Turkish folklore, the Karakura is a cat-sized animal that sits on the chest of a sleeping person at night, choking them by taking away their breath and, in some accounts, even tearing out their lungs. It is sometimes perceived as a shapeless or abstract entity. In Anatolian folk beliefs, it appears as a goat-like creature the size of a cat that attempts to strangle people. In some regions, it is believed to be an evil being that frightens women in childbirth until they lose consciousness and then removes their lungs (1574: p.168).

The Kara-kura, stepping ever so quietly, comes and sits upon a person who is fast asleep. Wherever the Kara-kura sits, the person feels a crushing weight pressing down on them. They cannot turn over, lose their voice, and their breathing stops. They want to cry out, but cannot. This lasts for several minutes. The person breaks out in sweat. Suddenly it occurs to them to recite the Qur'anic formula “Euzu, Besmele”. They slowly open their eyes, but the Kara-kura that had been sitting on them has already vanished. Dazed and bewildered, they look around: everything is quiet. They continue reciting verses from the Qur'an.

To prevent the Kara-kura from coming, people place a knife or at least a piece of iron beneath their pillow. Before going to sleep, they recite several verses from the Qur'an and blow to both sides before lying down. Then the Kara-kura can no longer approach.

V. A. Gordlevsky "From Ottoman Demonology". Recorded from a native of Ayaş, Ankara Vilayet (723: p.308).

The Karakura is also believed to fear daylight greatly and to become unable to move once the sun rises. For this reason, it can only be captured at dawn (1574: p.168).