Skyrider

Skyriders are huge, perhaps scary at first sight creatures who are used - and have been used since time immemorial - as messengers throughout the lands of Forice. 
Their roars  - sounding like horn signals - can be easily learned to decipher by anyone who wants to do so and serve as a unique alphabet/word bank that can form any kind of message. The skyriders are smart enough to understand the common language, dragons' languages and some Terran languages - such as English, Russian and Japanese. They can also remember faces if they are shown a picture and find a specific person to give a message to. They would be the almost perfect messengers if there wasn't one small - yet adorable - behavioral feature of theirs: they can be easily distracted by nice sunny green fields and any chance for a nap or tummy rubs by children or anyone passing by.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A skyrider is a quadruped creature with long hard horn instead of nose - somewhat like an elephant's trunk but longer and curled upwards like a horn or the musical kind. It has two pairs of peculiar wings - one pair - as traditional - is a second pair of frond legs/arms, however the second one is essentially their long ears.  Skyriders also have a long tail ending in small "fan" looking like its made of leaves.

Ecology and Habitats

The optimal habitat for skyriders is big areas rich on silty soil under which they make their burrows with the help of fairies and forest spirits who'd build up supports with branches and carefully picked rocks. 
The problem with finding good places for them to live and reproduce is the fact they do require pretty much the same location as most medium-sized rideable dragons. This is why on those reservations where they have finally been settled live a select group of caretakes who manage the relationship between skyriders - being the largest flying mammals on the planet of Forice - and local dragons.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Skyriders have super acute hearing - very much helped by their ear-wings. They can hear the squeaks of a mouse located over 3km from their location. 
A big part of their being - and their ability to fly, camouflage in most terrains and the strength of their sound reproduction is based on the same kind of magic that some medium-sized dragons share.

Written for: Bestiary February

Prompts covered: wings, stripes, horn, roar, burrow, gentle, messenger

Conservation Status

Skyriders are protected and kept in three reservations located in key spots all over the planet of Forice where the environment for them is optimal. The need for their protection came from the sudden appearance of a magical parasite that would weaken the herds by sucking out their flying energy, life energy and killing them one by one. With the help of the beings themselves calling out for help and the long work of magical medical professionals with them, the parasites were eliminated but not before the 500+ individuals from all over Forice being reduced to barely under 200.

Dietary needs & Habits

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The skyriders are one of those species of gentle giants who'd eat most fruits and vegetables, willow leaves as well as some types of seeds, some milk products and sugarcane.

Fur patterns & looks

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Most skyriders have striped skin and fur that are unique for every individual and can shift their looks depending on how the sun hits them.