Wilderdrake

These smaller, green-scaled dragons have small wings with grasping hooks for pulling themsleves through tunnels and around root systems. Their foreclaws are specially designed for burrowing out their small, underground homes. Far from their noble ancestors, these dragons are mere animals preying upon whatever animals or people are unfortunate enough to wander near their territory, neutralizing their targets with their venomous bite allowing them to capture even prey larger than themselves. Fortunately they are quite uncommon, yet parents accross eastern Raiven use them as boogeymen to keep unruly children in line.

Basic Information

Anatomy

These dragons present mottled green-brown scales which help with their camouflage when awaiting prey. Their hooked wings and shovel-like claws are likewise clear indicators of their kind. When fully grown they average around 5 meters nose-to-tail and rarely exceed 7, with a wingspan of about twice their length. Their eyes are uniquely adapted to rapidly transition between low and bright light, with excellent vision in both states, and their wings are particularly good at detecting nearby ground vibrations when hooked into the soil.

Genetics and Reproduction

Wilderdrakes are solitary predators only meeting to mate briefly before returning to their own territories. All wilderdrakes are hermaphroditic, capable of both bearing young and fertilizing others of their kind. A mating usually results in both dragons bearing young. They are also one of the few dragons which do not lay eggs, instead carrying their young for six months before delivering live.

Growth Rate & Stages

Newborns remain in the parent's burrrow for roughly a year before leaving to claim a territory of its own. From this adolesence they will grow into maturity over roughly two years. If left to maturity a wilderdrake can live into its third decade, though any beyond 25 years often present deterioration both physically and mentally, usually hampering their ability to hunt. Some very old wilderdrakes will turn to scavenging to survive, making them especially dangerous as they will wander beyond their territory in search of food.

Ecology and Habitats

Wilderdrakes make their burrows within the root systems of large forests and swamps in eastern and central Raiven. They have been found in Larathorn, Wheverwood, and Vel, though they may extend south beyond that range in smaller numbers. They do poorly with cold weather so it is unlikely to find one north of the Adamant mountains.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Wilderdrakes like most dragons are exclusive carnivores. They prefer to capture live prey which they eat before it rots, though they have the capacity to consume meat that has fully turned. On occassion they will scavenge food no matter how long it's been left dead, especially when they get older and their hunting skills weaken.

Biological Cycle

Hibernation throughout the Winter is intermittent, allowing them to still hunt prey throughout the season in a limited capacity. Still, they will often stockpile some meat within their burrows.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Wilderdrakes, like most dragons, have excellent vision in any condition. Unlike others though, their sense of smell is drastically lessened. They do, however, have a refined sense of touch in their wings which allows them to hook into the soil at the edge of a burrow and detect the vibrations of potential prey walking nearby.

Scientific Name

Draco Aracitos Atrax

Lifespan

25-35 years

Conservation Status

Wilderdrakes are rather uncommon, but as they are ambush predators it's difficult to determine an exact population estimate. They have been spotted in the less-travelled areas of the forests of Larathorn and Vel. Some small number have even been noted in the Wheverwood. Due to the threat they pose to communities, especially to children who will wander unaware into a wilderdrake's territory, when one is found in too close a proximity to a settlement it is usually hunted and slain.

Average Height

5-7 meters