Iara (mythology) VS Pontianak (folklore)

Iara, also spelled Uiara or Yara (Portuguese pronunciation: [iˈjaɾɐ], [iˈaɾɐ], [ˈjaɾɐ], [wiˈjaɾɐ], [ujˈjaɾɐ]) or Mãe das Águas ([ˈmɐ̃j dɐˈz aɣwɐs], "mother of the waters"), is a figure from Brazilian mythology based on ancient Tupi and Guaraní mythology. The word derives from Old Tupi yîara = y ("water") + îara ("lord; lady") = "lady of the lake" (water queen). Depending on the oral tradition and the context of the story, she can be seen either as a water nymph, a siren, or a beautiful mermaid that lives in the rivers of the Amazon Basin.

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The Pontianak, Matianak or Kuntilanak (from Dutch-Indonesian: Puntianak, Jawi: ڤونتيانق), sometimes shortened to Kunti, is a mythological creature in Malay and Indonesian folklore. It is described as a vampiric, vengeful female ghost. The pontianak is the singular form of Kuntilanak, a woman who died in childbirth. Similar to the langsuir in Southeast Asia, the pontianak is a long-hair female bloodsucker that represents a local variation of vampire lore. She lures in unsuspecting men to incite fear and enact revenge. Signs that a pontianak is nearby include the sound of an infant crying and the smell of decaying corpses or the plumeria flower.

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