Sky Whale

Sky whales are old, predating even the Era of Turmoil. While most are wild, many are "domesticated" for purposes of trade and travel. They must be befriended, and the bonds they make with their mortal handlers are life long, with long lived species being preferred as they can generally match the lifespan of the whales. 
The sky whale travel network is extensive yet at the same time limited in how much they can move given their limited domestic numbers because of their high expense to care for, limiting it to those with money and power, even as clients.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Sky whales of various species and the more or less look alike their aquatic cousins, though their undersides are bioluminescent during both night and day in order to keep track and identify one another, though the daytime lights are only visible to other sky whales. How they fly is still a mystery, even after the extensive amount of research done to date.

Growth Rate & Stages

While it is generally the same as aquatic whales, they tend to live for centuries at a time, the oldest records of which matching the average lifespan of elves, though just how old they can get is a matter of debate.

Ecology and Habitats

Sky whales generally exist and live at high altitudes, most comfortable flying above the height of local mountains. They rarely if ever touch the ground, living solely in the air when in the wild. Their only natural predators are dragons, which don't particularly care to tangle with pods and instead will pursue lone whales and stragglers.

Dietary Needs and Habits

While it is easy enough to feed "domesticated" sky whales with farmed insects and small animals, it is generally unknown how sky whales are able to intact the sheer amount of intake needed to sustain themselves, let alone their flight.

Scientific Name

Caelus cetocencea

Conservation Status

By and large, nearly every culture acknowledges the value and beauty of the sky whales. Most have laws against their hunting, and few have even "domesticated" them in a symbiotic relationship where they transport people and goods and have their needs met by land dwellers.