Coatl (coh-AWE-tuhl)

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Coatles are large, feather-winged serpents somewhat resembling green vine snakes with scarlet macaw wings emerging from what would be their shoulders. Adults can grow up to 12ft long but are extremely light, often weighing only around 50lbs. They are ambush predators with sharp teeth and strong jaws and are not venomous nor do they constrict their prey.
It is unknown how long they typically live as they are rare in the wild and do not thrive in captivity, often dying within a few years.

Ecology and Habitats

Coatles are native to the jungles and swamps on the south-central region of the continent, commonly considered to be elven territory. They prefer hot, humid climates with lots of tall, dense trees to conceal them from predators and prey. They are cold-blooded and do not fare well in temperate or cold climates but are also prone to overheating in deserts without the option of shade.

Behaviour

Coatles are intelligent– perhaps even more so than most "civilized" races– but their divine nature makes their perspective hard to understand. They make their nests high in the trees and have been observed sitting stationary for very long periods of time in a seemingly meditative state until action is needed, such as diving into water for fish with incredible precision. They are not territorial and generally flee from danger in the wild, but can become suddenly aggressive in the presence of intelligent creatures for sometimes unclear reasons. This aggression takes the form of a very bright flash of light that ignites any nearby flammable material.
They are solitary creatures. After mating both parents will remain in the area only until the typically singular egg hatches before taking off in their own directions. Baby coatles are fully self-sufficient creatures and do not need their parents' assistance.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Coatles are inherently holy creatures, though what that actually means is unknown. They do not possess the ability to speak words, only able to vocalize something between a hiss and a sung note when threatened. They are, however, able to communicate telepathically with other intelligent creatures but seem to do so very rarely.

Couatl by Wizards of the Coast