Ghast

Basic Information

Anatomy

Ghasts are very large, squid-like creatures that can fly. Part of their size is owed to the massive pocket of air trapped inside their body cavity. Said air is lighter and less dense than the surrounding Nether air, allowing ghasts to float even when not flying. To adjust altitude, ghasts inhale or exhale air through gills in the sides of their bodies. They use their tentacles to steer themselves while flying or floating and as prehensile limbs. Ghasts have front-facing eyes and a somewhat small mouth. Immediately behind the mouth is a hard beak. Inside the mouth canal, ghasts have sacs to hold a slew of explosive and incendiary chemicals, which allow them to form and expel fire charges. Their eyes are sensitive to the heat and smoke in their environment, so they only open their eyes when shooting. Because of the irritants in Nether air, they also appear to be perpetually crying.
Female ghasts are slightly smaller than males, and have higher-pitched cries. Other than that, it can be difficult to discern males from females.

Genetics and Reproduction

Mating season for ghasts happens once a year, but due to the inability to gauge time in the Nether, it can seemingly happen at random. They become rather aggressive during this time -- fighting over mates, smashing rivals' nests, and violently enforcing their territory with screeching and fireballs.
This is an oviparous species. After mating, the male will leave and the female will seek out a suitable den. Once she lays the eggs (up to 20 eggs), she will use her saliva to "glue" them into long chains and attach them to the ceiling of her den. During incubation, she rarely moves from the spot, except to get food. Once the eggs hatch, the mother will stay with her ghastlings until they are old enough to survive on their own. When they hatch, ghastlings instinctively know how to fly.

Dietary Needs and Habits

This is an omnivorous species that takes advantage of whatever food is available in its environment. Most of the time, ghasts will feed on fungi: red mushrooms, brown mushrooms, warped fungus, crimson fungus, and occasionally nether wart. If they get very hungry, they may turn to eating meat. When this happens, they will attack hoglins and striders as prey.

Additional Information

Social Structure

With the exception of females raising their young, ghasts are solitary creatures. They prefer to avoid other Ghasts, and may enforce their personal space by shooting fireballs.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Piglins have learnt how to tame ghasts, which they use for flying transportation and as beasts of burden. Humans do not have this skill. They hunt ghasts for their gunpowder, tears (which have regenerative properties), and hide.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Ghasts can be found almost anywhere in the Nether. They are especially prolific in soul sand valley biomes.

Average Intelligence

They are quite intelligent animals, as most cephalopods are. They are adept at solving puzzles and problems, using their environment to their advantage, and getting into mischief.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Ghasts have all six basic senses. Their eyesight is very poor, however, so they rely on sound as their primary sensory input. Ghasts have very acute hearing, being able to detect sounds from as far as 100 metres away. They use echolocation to create a crude map of their surroundings, by sending out cries and listening to the echoes against solid obstacles.

Scientific Name

Abinferno lacrimae

Origin/Ancestry

A cephalopod species from the Nether.

Lifespan

10 to 12 years

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Average Height

4 metres

Average Weight

12 - 15 kg

Average Length

4 metres