Volagarto

Since their discovery in the jungles of the east these small, flying lizards have become the must have pet for those with money and influence within Gran Riomar. They are desired not only because people find them cute and exotic, but also because they have some very unique abilities.

Basic Information

Anatomy

They have elongated scaly bodies, with long wedge shaped heads at the end of a highly flexible neck. They have two limbs to the rear of their bodies which act as legs, which the creature can stand upright and walk on. Their front limbs are a pair of leathery bat-like wings, which can fold along their backs. The rear of their torso ends in a long prehensile tail, which they use for balance and support.

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Genetics and Reproduction

Volagarto have both male and female reproductive organs. They have a mating cycle of about five years, for two months of that cycle they are driven by the urge to find a mate and reproduce. Once they have found a compatible mate, the pair begin making a nest and in one of the pair the female reproductive organs will become active and begin producing eggs. The other partner's male reproductive organs will become active, and will fertilise the eggs inside the female.
After 15-18 days the female will lay a clutch of anywhere up to six eggs. The pair will take turns between nesting and finding food for the next 18-21 days, at which point some or all of the eggs will hatch. There is about a seventy percent hatch rate amongst Volagarto in the wild: this rises to eighty five percent in captivity, providing they are kept in a good environment and cared for properly.

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Growth Rate & Stages

Once hatched the infant lizards are completely blind for the first few days, and their back legs are unable to support their full weight for the first two weeks. they use their wings and tail in order to support their movement about the nest. It takes two months for their wings to become strong enough to support them in the air. For these first two months the parents will again take turns hunting food for and protecting the hatchlings.
Once their wings have gained strength they hatchlings are allowed out of the nest with their parents. Their wings are only able to support them in flight for short distances at first: it takes almost a year for the little lizards to reach their full growth and for their wings to become strong enough for sustained flight. During this year their parents will teach them how to hunt for food and how to survive. once the year is up the young lizards are ready to head out on their own and fend for themselves.

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Ecology and Habitats

The volagarto's natural habitat is the jungles in the east of the pangea, however they can live comfortably anywhere there is a tropical or subtropical climate. They are a tree dwelling species mostly, though some do build their nests in rocky pinnacles.

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Dietary Needs and Habits

Volagarto are omnivores and survive by both hunting and foraging. They are not particularly fussy about they eat and will hunt and eat small mammals, other lizards and reptiles and even some small birds, though they prefer to raid their nests for the eggs. They like to supplement their diet with fruit, seeds and edible flowers and have even been known to nibble certain fungi which grow on the bark of the trees.

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Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Like bats these small lizards use a form of echo-location to navigate. They are able to produce an astonishing array of sounds, one of which is a high pitched trilling that they use in aid of this echo-location. Their eyesight is reasonably poor, only being able to see about thirty feet, though they are extremely good at spotting any movement within this field. Their hearing is exceptional: being able to hear in ranges far beyond those of people, they are also able to hear ultrasound and infrasound.
The reason people find them so desirable is their ability to perceive souls, and seemingly communicate with them on some level. It is believed this may be tied to their exeptional hearing, though there are also theories that the volagato can feel vibrations through their skin and thus can feel souls rather than hear them. Regardless of how this communication is acheived, it has been observed that souls are far more likely to work with people who have one of these unusual pets.

Lifespan

30 years

Conservation Status

Due to their prized nature the volagarto's habitats are protected, and illegal poaching is dealt with harshly.

Average Height

40 - 60 cm

Average Weight

3-5 lbs

Average Length

60 - 80 cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Their scales can come in almost any colour, from deep red, to midnight blue to a dark forest green, although the tone is usually always dark. Their wings are several shades lighter than their bodies, and their underbellies lie somewhere in between. As they grow older they will develop dark, almost black, stripes which run the legth of their bodies and tails.

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caring for your Volagarto

Your Volagarto likes to be warm, temperatures below 10 degrees will cause them to become sluggish and unhappy, below 2 degrees can result in death.

Volagarto are social creatures and love company, do not leave them alone for prolonged periods of time. Spending at least four hours a day with your Volagarto will ensure they remain happy.

It is recommended that you allow your Volagarto to spend time with other Volagarto at least twice a week.

Volagarto will eat almost anything, however to remain at peak health it is recommended that they are fed a balanced diet of: raw meat, fruit, tubers and greens.

Once every two years your Volagarto will moult their scales. This process takes up to 3 days to complete. During this time provide them with a rough surface to scrape against if they wish. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SCRAPE THE SCALES OFF YOURSELF.

Volagarto like to take baths, ensure they have access to fresh clean water for both drinking and bathing. Keep these separate as your Volagarto will not drink water it has bathed in.

Volagarto are curious and intelligent creatures who love to explore and play, ensure you give them plenty of things to stimulate them: daily excursions outside, toys, playing with them etc.