Viperadraca aviumlunarum|Southern Wyvern
Basic Info
Southern Wyverns, also sometimes called Night Wings for their dark coloration and patterns, are possibly the most widespread of all dragon species. Although they namely inhabit the Far South, a few small populations are known to exist as far north as Capareon and Niana, and they go as far south as the lands beyond the "Seas Unknown", in places like Kakarmn. Early Capareon exploration teams who were sent out to scope out the territories claimed by the empire found these fierce beasts to be numerous and wide spread, and also very deadly to deal with.
Physical Info
Over 20 meters in length from head to the base of the tail, and with a tail of at least another 15 meters, these wyverns are smaller than their cousin the Mountain Wyvern. They are "fire breathing" dragons, a special organ in their throat allowing them to store(and possibly create) flammable gasses, and somehow combust them after released. Night Wings are always very dark in colors, at least from the ground view when flying. Females are nearly solid black, with either stripes or banding of a dark brownish gray. Males are black from the ground view, but from above, they have beautiful bright spotting, which helps in attracting a mate. The brighter, more flashy the spots, the more healthy and strong the male, and thus the more suitable mate.
Females are slightly larger than males, which is believed to be an adaptation for protecting young from aggressive males who would kill them in order to mate with the mother.
Behavior
Although not quite as aggressive as most wyvern species, and not quite as territorial, Night Wings do still fight each other over prey and mates. And like most Wyverns, they are not above cannibalism. They tend to make dens out of rocky areas, or even large caves if they can find such things, and will guard a good den with their life if they must.
Younger Night Wings from sometimes band together, keeping a territory defended from larger adults, and even sharing kills. These groups will eventually break up once they start getting too big to share a territory, but they offer young wyverns a much safer alternative to living alone for their adolescence, where they are an easy meal for wyvern or dragon larger than them.
Adult Night Wings only hunt about once every few months, making as many kills as the can when they do hunt, and then pretty much hibernate between these feeding times. They do this because of the lack of larger prey. In places where large enough prey is abundant, they may forgo the hibernation periods, and actively hunt more often.
Reproduction
Night Wing females only mate once every decade or so, and spend at least six months pregnant before laying a small clutch of eggs, numbering between a mere 1 and 5. She alone will tend to the eggs, and the young once hatched. She will care for the young for at least eight years, when they reach a young adolescent stage and can take care of themselves.
Night Wing females are very picky about mates, do to how few offspring they have and how far apart they have them. A female will scent mark her territory excessively when she's ready to mate, drawing in as many males as she can. As the males fight each other, she watches from above, looking for both the greatest skilled of the males and the one with the brightest markings. When she's made her pick, she and the lucky male will drive off the rest, giving them some privacy. The male isn't done proving himself yet though! Days of courting and bonding will end in one last test. Not unlike eagles, the female will lead the male in a death defying dance in the sky, where they lock together and free fall, only separating at just the right moment as to not crash. If the male messes up even the slightest, the female will drive him off, and seek a new partner.
Southern Wyverns, also sometimes called Night Wings for their dark coloration and patterns, are possibly the most widespread of all dragon species. Although they namely inhabit the Far South, a few small populations are known to exist as far north as Capareon and Niana, and they go as far south as the lands beyond the "Seas Unknown", in places like Kakarmn. Early Capareon exploration teams who were sent out to scope out the territories claimed by the empire found these fierce beasts to be numerous and wide spread, and also very deadly to deal with.
Physical Info
Over 20 meters in length from head to the base of the tail, and with a tail of at least another 15 meters, these wyverns are smaller than their cousin the Mountain Wyvern. They are "fire breathing" dragons, a special organ in their throat allowing them to store(and possibly create) flammable gasses, and somehow combust them after released. Night Wings are always very dark in colors, at least from the ground view when flying. Females are nearly solid black, with either stripes or banding of a dark brownish gray. Males are black from the ground view, but from above, they have beautiful bright spotting, which helps in attracting a mate. The brighter, more flashy the spots, the more healthy and strong the male, and thus the more suitable mate.
Females are slightly larger than males, which is believed to be an adaptation for protecting young from aggressive males who would kill them in order to mate with the mother.
Behavior
Although not quite as aggressive as most wyvern species, and not quite as territorial, Night Wings do still fight each other over prey and mates. And like most Wyverns, they are not above cannibalism. They tend to make dens out of rocky areas, or even large caves if they can find such things, and will guard a good den with their life if they must.
Younger Night Wings from sometimes band together, keeping a territory defended from larger adults, and even sharing kills. These groups will eventually break up once they start getting too big to share a territory, but they offer young wyverns a much safer alternative to living alone for their adolescence, where they are an easy meal for wyvern or dragon larger than them.
Adult Night Wings only hunt about once every few months, making as many kills as the can when they do hunt, and then pretty much hibernate between these feeding times. They do this because of the lack of larger prey. In places where large enough prey is abundant, they may forgo the hibernation periods, and actively hunt more often.
Reproduction
Night Wing females only mate once every decade or so, and spend at least six months pregnant before laying a small clutch of eggs, numbering between a mere 1 and 5. She alone will tend to the eggs, and the young once hatched. She will care for the young for at least eight years, when they reach a young adolescent stage and can take care of themselves.
Night Wing females are very picky about mates, do to how few offspring they have and how far apart they have them. A female will scent mark her territory excessively when she's ready to mate, drawing in as many males as she can. As the males fight each other, she watches from above, looking for both the greatest skilled of the males and the one with the brightest markings. When she's made her pick, she and the lucky male will drive off the rest, giving them some privacy. The male isn't done proving himself yet though! Days of courting and bonding will end in one last test. Not unlike eagles, the female will lead the male in a death defying dance in the sky, where they lock together and free fall, only separating at just the right moment as to not crash. If the male messes up even the slightest, the female will drive him off, and seek a new partner.