Boletosaurus

The massive omnivorous boletosaruses are strange hybrid creatures, their bodies a peculiar mix of fungal and animal traits. It is unknown what the origin of this is. Some scholars posit that the first boletosaruses were victims of fungal infections, which mixed weirdly with their regenerative capabilities. Others instead suggest the boletosaurus represents a distinct lineage and are in fact neither animals nor fungi, but something entirely different that just happens to share characteristics with both.
Their capacity for recovery means boletosauruses have little to fear from anything and in fact, their brains have a very diminished capacity for fear compared to other animals. For this reason, boletosauruses rarely back down from anything but the most extreme and obvious of dangers.
In combat, boletosauruses are uncomplicated, wading in and ferociously biting and tearing at their target until it is dead.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The boletosaurus has a heavy set body, each of its four legs ending in a set of four long claws. It has a long tail and extended neck. Its mouth is filled with sharp teeth and its skin is a mottled, mossy green in color. Most notably of its physical features is their extreme regenerative properties, with flesh rapidly mending post-injury, to the point of being visible to the naked eye. This accelerated healing capacity also offers a measure of protection against poison, making it less than effective. And even more remarkable, this rapid healing produces a sort of scar-tissue that is structurally designed to mitigate repeat injury of the type that caused the initial damage. This tissue tends to fade after about a cycle, but makes an important difference in life-or-death situations. The exception is acid and fire, which disrupts the boletosaurus' capacity to heal itself. Fire is especially destructive, causing rapid rupturing of the creature's cells in the affected area.

Genetics and Reproduction

Boletosauruses can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Boletosauruses are equipped with a series of organs analogous to genitals, which can transfer spores with genetic information between two, or occasionally more boletosauruses, resulting in the potential for pregnancy in all involved. They can also self-fertilize, growing a clone of themselves. In either case, gestation lasts sixty to hundred cycles, depending on local time. Boletosauruses give brith to live young once this period is over.

Growth Rate & Stages

Boletosauruses grow quickly, reaching their adult state in a couple of decacycles.

Ecology and Habitats

Boletosauruses prefer the environment to be at least slightly damp and shady and thus sticks to areas with forest, caves or similar features. Their large bulk and appetite for decaying matter means that any forest they dwell in tends to be spacious.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Boletosauruses will eat anything organic. Their stomachs are, however, not optimal at breaking down food and for this reason, they prefer their meals slightly decayed. They scavenge for rotting plants and carcasses using their fine sense of smell. They also hunt just about anything they come across, storing the cadavers in a larder in their dens to ripen. Boletosaruses will also engage in cannibalism if food becomes scarce.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Boletosauruses have a very limited social life. They take care of their young once born and share their larder with them until they grow up, at which point they leave their progenitor's den to seek out their own territory.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Boletosaruses are very adaptable. As longs as they can find a place with enough shade and moisture to be comfortable with enough food nearby, they can settle just about anywhere. As such, boletosauruses can be found in nearly every known sphere.

Average Intelligence

Boletosauruses operate on very basic instincts, dividing the world up pretty much into food, not-food and other boletosaruses.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The hearing of the boletosaurus is not too good. It compensates for it with its excellent sense of smell. Its eyes are capable of discerning things with even the slightest light, though it is not so good at discerning colors. Again, its nose helps compensate. Tactile senses are muted and boletosauruses often miss slight injuries.

Scientific Name

Boletus Lacerta

Lifespan

80 years

Average Height

3.4-3.7 meters

Average Weight

3000-4000 kilos

Average Length

7.0-7.6 meters