In Brazilian indigenous mythology, a malevolent forest spirit or creature that inhabits wild places and can be dangerous to humans.
From Tupi-Guarani languages, possibly derived from 'anhang'. Documented by European observers and missionaries among indigenous peoples of Brazil and Amazon region.
The anhanga represents how indigenous peoples personified the dangers of the rainforest—it's basically 'the forest itself' as a living, potentially hostile force that you had to respect and fear!
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