Flying Lizards

Called Yoradkira or Kiurnals by the Regalti, Flying Lizards are a diverse family of mostly four legged reptiles that evolved wings on their backs for gliding and flight. Each genera of lizard is very different from each other morphologically. Some are still gliders like their early ancestors. Many are fully capable of flight through various adaptations, including the loss of front limbs or the evolution of rear limbs into wings. These lizards are found just about everywhere on Collena, on the ground, and living on top of Skyshells, miles in the sky.

Etymology and classification

The scientific classification for all Collena lifeforms uses the similar Earth-based classification all the way to the family or genera level for quick familiarization. Yoradkira are Chordates, they are cold blooded, scaly reptiles (Reptilia and Squamata), and morphologically they are physically similar to iguanas (Iguania). The least specialized of the group could pass for Anoles if it wasn't for their wings. "Volatilis" is Latin for flying or hovering.

The common name "Kiurnal" is from the Bevarian word for Lizard "Kior". It isn't quite known where 'nal' came from, possibly from Kefnar "Letnal" which means wing.

The Vevari word "Hadkira" is for any lizard in general, while Yoradkira means 'Sky Lizard". The humans call them "Dragonflies" because of one genus that has four wings and has a similar appearance to Earth based dragonflies.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Sub-Order: Iguania
Family: Volatilis
Common Name(s):

Kiurnal(common)

Yoradkira (Vevari)

Hadkira (Vevari)

Dragonflies (Human)

Geographic distribution

Evolution

Animals on Planet Collena have always had trouble evolving flight, even though the planet has a lower gravity than worlds like Earth in the Solar System (about 84% Earth gravity) and even lower than worlds like Kunwold in the Venjint System (about 76% Kunwold Gravity), and has a much thicker atmosphere than either world (about 110% of either world). Scientists theorized the issue lay in Collena's unique Cloud Flowers, which is known to have caused the extinction of 99% of all arthropods on land around 200 million years ago. When arthropods went extinct, so did an early family of flying reptilian creatures. Their grounded Saurian cousins later evolved into Jinani, or four legged birds, some of which evolved flight again.

This is about when the earliest ancestors of Yoradkira appeared in the fossil record. A unique feature of Tetrapods (reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds) on Collena are the two extra dorsal limbs on the back just behind the shoulders. Often used for balance, usually this gives the limbs a similar appearance to the creature's tails. Some reptiles developed a flattened membrane jutting out from these limbs, using it to glide from tree to tree.

Around 25 million years ago, these reptiles mostly got smaller and diversified, filling in ecological roles that were once filled with flying arthropods. The thin membranes and dorsal limbs turned into wings. Nearly all flying lizards are tiny, less than the size of a human hand. Others are among the largest flying creatures on Collena, with wingspans exceeding 3 meters. Today there are five distinct genera of Yoradkira.

Size comparison between example species from various Yoradkira families and a human hand:
███ - Adkadkira (Falling Lizards)
███ - Marfa Lentsai (Different Wings)
███ - Jumping Hadkira (Jumping Lizards)
███ - True Yoradkira (Dragonflies)
███ - Fare Hadkira (Swarming Lizards)

Types

((These will be expanded into full sized articles sometime this month))

Adkadkira - Falling Lizards

Also called Falling Lizards, these reptiles are an example of the early evolution of flying lizards. Dozens of species still exist today. Their wings aren't large enough to support their weight for flight, so they use them to slowly glide to the ground. Their diet mainly consists of other, smaller hadkira.

Jumping Hadkira - Jumping Lizards

This genus developed powerful hind legs for jumping high in the air before gliding back to earth. Their wings are more evolved than the Adkadkira, and through a flapping motion, smaller ones can sustain flight for short periods of time. The smallest species of the genus are capable of powered flight.

Marfa Lentsai - Different Wings

This genus developed a set of wings on its hind legs and its front legs are so small they are almost useless for anything but holding on to surfaces. The hind legs look completely different from its regular wings. They can hover in the air at altitude for many months at a time. Some examples of this species can get rather large, with wingspans of up to 4 meters, though most are much smaller.

True Yoradkira - Dragonflies

This genus had several random genetic mutations millions of years ago that threw its evolutionary path in a different direction from other flying lizards of Collena. Its hind legs grew into the same type of wings as the ones on its back. This didn't stop this creature from taking advantage of its new flight capabilities. This group of flying lizards also lost its forelimbs entirely. Humans call them dragonflies because, they, pretty much look like Dragonflies from far away.

Fare Hadkira - Swarming Lizards

The largest size of any specimen in this group of lizards is around a centimeter in length, not including the tail. Most are much, much smaller in size. This group also has the smallest living example of any tetrapod on Collena. They are called swarming lizards because of their tendency to mindlessly swarm around food sources. (( for comparison purposes, the smallest lizard on Earth is the Brookesia nana, or Nano-Chameleon, and measures just over a centimeter in length, not including the tail. ))

Wingspan Comparison

Wing comparison between example species from various Yoradkira families:

███ - Adkadkira (Falling Lizards)
███ - Marfa Lentsai (Different Wings)
███ - Jumping Hadkira (Jumping Lizards)

███ - True Yoradkira (Dragonflies)
███ - Fare Hadkira (Swarming Lizards)