Once believed to be disembodied heads, the Penanggalan is actually a tropical member of the Draculaidae family. With their frontal glands, large, bright in color, caruncles and their wild flowing plumes, it is easy to see how weary travels might confuse them as such.
Both males and females posses the frontal glands located on their back to communicate across vast stretches of their jungle territory. The bright red caruncles of males are also used to communicate in the dense green. Scaring away rival males and attracting would be mates.
Like most vampiric creatures the Penanggalan is highly solitary. Pairs only staying together for a short period of time to rear their single pup.













