Sigbin

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The Sigbin are mythical creatures of the Philippines that come out at night and are said to suck the blood of their would-be victims from their shadows. The creatures walk backwards with their heads lowered between their hind legs.

It is also believed that there are families known as "Sigbinan" or those who own "Sigbins". Together with the ownership of the creature is the power to command them. The creatures are also said to bring wealth and luck to their owners.

In the Eastern Visayas they are also known as the Amamayong.

There are people who claim to have seen one of these creatures. There are speculation that the legend may be based on sightings of an actual animal species that is rarely seen. Some have speculated, based on the description of the "sigbin", that the animal species might be related to the kangaroo. With the recent discovery in the island of Borneo of the cat-fox, a potential new species of carnivore described as having hind legs that are lower than their front legs, the animal species that is the possible basis of the legends as well as the reported sightings may belong to or be related to the cat-fox species.