Scissor-Claw

I'm genuinely freaked out by these animals. They are so intelligent it's concerning, at some point one could consider them sophonts. As well, they sit like people do which is just creepy if you're wandering through a forest at night and see one sat up against a tree.

Anatomy

Scissor-claws are a small dragon, as far as nature dragons go. They're about 5 feet tall when stood on all fours, with a tail at 6 feet to double the dragon's entire length. These dragons get their name from their tails, which ends in a small "scissor claw".

They typically boast greenish scales - I have recorded an array of shades, from yellow-greens to blue-greens, and even a random purple. Not sure how common purple scissor-claws are, but it can't be very since I've only ever found one scale.

I'm only certain it is this kind of dragon is because they have a unique scale shape, with two inwards curved points that hook onto other scales to form a secure and practically impenetrable suit of armour.

Scissor-Claw Scales by Mochi

They are very back-heavy animals, with small heads and large hind legs. They can sit on just these legs, giving them a more humanoid appearance.

Habitat

Scissor-claws are found in wooded areas, where their sturdy scales are best camouflaged. Their drab green plumage helps them hide from predators and from prey, and their large nests are built from twigs and branches, tucked away in bushes and dense foliage.

Scissor-Claw by Mochi

Element
Nature

Lifespan

40 years

Average Height

5 feet (all fours)

Average Length

30 feet

Geographic Distribution
Southern Archipelago
Greenpeak
Kazaharo Cliffs
Seal Key

Relationships & Reproduction

Empty Scissor-Claw Nest by Mochi

Nests

Scissor-claw nests are one of the worst things to accidentally tumble into. They're not the largest of nests in the world, but if you're not watching where you walk then you can easily fall into one. Usually two eggs reside in these nests, held together by a thin, opaque membrane with a "skeleton" made of cartilage to keep the egg from deforming.

Reproduction

Scissor-claws are enthusiastic maters. They have no desire to reproduce other than during mating season - during mating season they go wild. It's best to stay away from these dragon's nesting areas. They nest in large communities in forests which does make it a bit easier to avoid, but all the more dangerous if you stumble across one.

Scissor-Claw Eggs by Mochi

Feeding Habits

Scissor-Claw Hunting by Mochi

Scissor-claws are very successful hunters. They have several methods of hunting, all with varying levels of success. Now you may be asking, "why do they hunt in a way that's less successful, when they could just hunt with more success?" The answer is I don't know. I just know they like to switch things up once in a while and hunt with a new method.

The method that requires least energy is shown by the wonderful image to the left. The dragons sit on large branches fairly low down to the ground, usually snakeroot trees since they are short but thick trees. Scissor-claws dangle their long tails just above the ground, releasing a chemical that attracts animals. With lightning fast movements, any animal that gets close to the tail is caught in their vice like grip, and carried up the tree to be eaten.

Scissor-claws eat smaller animals, like storm shrews (in the image). Funnily enough, the subspecies of storm shrew in the magnificent image to the left is fatally poisonous, and the dragon will absolutely die if they consume it.

Their weak jaws are not built for hunting large prey, which is why they target such small animals. Scissor-claws eat animals smaller than their mouths, which depends on the individual but generally isn't more than a foot long.