The large pointed ears identify this picture as a depiction of an arkula/argula. Arkula are malevolent spirit beings - often referred to in Kimberley Kriol as 'devil-devils'. Arkula are also one spirit-aspect of the dead. A man who has killed another can gain ascendancy over the power of the arkula of a man killed by eating a piece of the earth on which the deceased's blood has flowed. The arkula assures the killer of success when hunting, and also in locating and collecting other bush foods such as yams and honey.

There are many individually named arkula. Some are said to be especially malevolent others not so malignant, and occasionaly even benevolent to a degree. One particularly evil being was Munubunu. Munubunu caught people ho had broken tribal laws in a special net he carried, along with a special killing stick that by thrusting the latter into the ears of his victims he drove mad. Eventually Munubunu left himself as a painting in a cave of the same name located on the Hunter River. It is said that people were still meeting up with and having encounters with arkula well into the 20th century.