Stinkteeth
Stinkteeth (the singular and plural noun is the same) are a species of carion eating amphibian which lives in the freshwaters of Northern Punjuki. Sometimes called simply "stinkers" they are notorious for their bad breath and their bite is more dangerous for the infections it can cause than for the mechanical damage it produces.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Adult Stinkteeth are between one and two metres in length with a brown mottled skin that needs to be kept damp. A ridge of flat bony plates runs down their spine and they have a long flexible tail. Powerful flippers make them excellent swimmers and allow them limited mobility on land. Their jaws are the most notable feature of an elongated head, opening wide to reveal fearsome rows of sharp teeth for tearing and biting.
Genetics and Reproduction
Stinkteeth mate for life and have a typical life span of between fifteen to twenty years. The females lay eggs, no more than once every two years and no more than three in the same brood. The male and female look after the nests until the hatchlings are ready to swim and continue to support their children in family groups until they are as old as five or six years, by which time they are sexually mature and will leave to find a mate.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Stinkteeth feed mainly on carion found in or around the freshwaters of Northern Punjuki. They are capable of killing small animals and some fish but they are will not hunt anything much larger half a metre in length and predation is only an occasional opportunist activity which they will usually indulge only when they sense an existing weakness. Larger healthy animals, including humans, seldom have much to fear from them unless they are already compromised in some way. The creature's primary role is a scavanger which can live on land or in the water.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Stinkteeth live in small family groups of no more than five of six individuals. The parents raise the children until they are mature between five and six years after hatching. When they are still small enough, the youngsters will often sleep in the jaws of their mothers, where they are protected. An example of this maternal care can be seen in the image at the head of the article.
Lifespan
18 years
Average Height
0.5 metres
Average Weight
20 kg
Average Length
1.5 metres
Geographic Distribution
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