Malacoda is a character in Dante Alighieri's Inferno (Cantos 21-2), where he features as the leader of the Malebranche, the twelve demons who guard Bolgia Five of Malebolge, the eighth circle of Hell. The name Malacoda is roughly equivalent to "bad tail" or "evil tail" in Italian.

Malacoda is a demon who appears in Inferno of Dante's Divine Comedy. In the poem, he is part of a demonic troop called the Malebranche, who guard the fifth bolgia of Malebolge. The Malebolge is found in the eighth circle of Hell, Fraud, where corrupt politicians are immersed in burning pitch.

Malacoda ("Evil Tail" in Italian) was one of Lucifer's top lieutenants in the circle of Fraud. He was summoned by a corrupted Beatrice upon Dante's arrival in this area. Dante must face down two of these creatures during his journey through the Malebolge.

When Dante and Virgil meet them, the leader of the Malebranche, Malacoda ("Evil Tail" [1]), assigns a troop to escort the poets safely to the next bridge. Many of the bridges were destroyed in the earthquake that happened at the death of Christ, which Malacoda describes

Malacoda is the leader of the devils who torture souls in the fifth trench of the eighth circle of hell. His band of devils try to attack Virgil, but he stops them by telling them that God has willed his and Dante's journey. He then sends a group of devils to escort Dante and Virgil to the next trench, though this is later revealed to be an ...

Malacoda, the leader of the Malabranche (his name means “evil tail”), informs them of the exact moment that the bridge fell: 1,266 years and nineteen hours (or, as he puts it, five hours later than the same time yesterday) before the present moment.

Malacoda. The leader of the Malabranche, the demons who guard the Fifth Pouch of the Eighth Circle of Hell. Malacoda (his name means “evil tail”) intentionally furnishes Virgil and Dante with erroneous directions. Vanni Fucci. A thief punished in the Seventh Pouch of the Eighth Circle of Hell who prophesies the defeat of the White Guelphs.

Malacoda is a mighty demon whom is the leader of the Malebranche, the twelve demons who guard Bolgia Five of Malebolge, the eighth circle of Hell. The name Malacoda is roughly equivalent to "bad tail" or "evil tail" in Italian.

Malacoda, the leader of the demons, may not be based on any particular person but his name--"Evil Tail"--strongly suggests that it is he (and not Barbariccia, as the Mandelbaum translation supposes) who sends off his troops by making "a bugle of his ass" (21.139).

[26] Malacoda, an individualized devil with a name and personality, has many more arrows in his quiver. Instead of being overtly truculent and overtly defiant, he is suavely charming and apparently helpful. In other words, Malacoda is a master of deceit.