Salamander Queen

No salamander is born a queen. Rather, a pheromone from bred females alters the hormone levels of a single female without eggs, transforming her into a queen. This causes her to grow to a size matching that of a male salamander and renders her sterile. Female salamanders produce this pheromone on a regular basis, but it only affects other females that have reached a certain milestone in age.

During midlife female salamanders undergo a change in hormone levels, and by late adulthood will have ceased to produce the hormone that counters the pheromone altogether, which makes them susceptible to the transformation. By the time an individual is viable for the transformation she will have had ample opportunity to produce her own offspring.

Becoming a queen triggers a dramatic change in temperament; even a fairly docile (as salamanders go) individual will become starkly aggressive and regal as a result. While a queen's aggression is rarely directed at her own clan members, she will assert her authority if one steps out of line.

The queen is responsible for providing for her nesting group as well as protecting it from rival clans and roving males. The queen will bring one or two attendants with her to hunt, on a rotating schedule. The remaining members of the clan care for the attendants' nests in their absence.

In the event that two clans encounter each other, a show of power is made between their respective queens. Usually one of the two queens will back down and cede the territory under dispute to the other, without the need for altercation. If neither is willing to surrender, the queens will engage in a duel for dominance, and none of the witnessing bystanders may interfere.

The formation process for a salamander clan is unclear at present; few recognizable traits or commonalities have been observed, so the current hypothesis is that clans consist of individuals that simply get along well with one another. Some include familial bonds, though it is uncommon. Others originate from proximity of territory. The only ubiquitous trend is the presence of a queen.

In most cases clans dissipate with the conclusion of breeding season and reform at the next one—sometimes with entirely new members, though it isn't especially uncommon for a few members to remain together if they have formed a strong bond with their queen.

Type

Physiological

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon