Leafwings (Latin: Icarus folium) are creatures which appear in the 2017 fantasy-adventure movie Kong: Skull Island and its prequel comic Skull Island: The Birth of Kong.
Description[]
Although a subspecies of the much larger Psychovultures, Leafwings bear few similarities to their psychologically unstable cousins. Reaching maximum wingspans of only five feet, this breed has evolved a long, spear-like beak which it uses to impale its prey. This proboscis is coated with an analgesic substance which sedates prey animals, allowing the Leafwing to carry off larger meals than would normally be the case.
Leafwings take their name from their membranous wings which resemble enormous plant growths: these wings secrete a waxy substance during the day which hardens as the evening brings cooler temperatures, allowing a Leafwing to glide as it hunts it’s prey, rather than flap to remain airborne, which would draw attention to its approach.
Leafwings are a species exclusive to Skull Island, and in particular Skull Peak.
Hunting[]
Unfortunately for Leafwings, their wings are highly prized by the native Iwi people, who believe that grinding their waxed membranes into a powder will produce a potent psychotropic drug. As a result, the Iwi will hunt these beasts at any opportunity.