Lindwurm (/ˈlɪndˌwɜːm/)

Lindwurms are medium-sized reptiles with no wings, but the ability to fly regardless. Their brains are more similar in structure to a corvid's rather than a lizard's, which gave rise to successful domestication attempts. Their flight capabilities stem from gas bladders which allow them to hover several feet above the sea and/or ground. Lindwurms tend to live in coastal areas where they can have both solid land to nest on and access to their primary foodsource of fish. There are few subspecies of lindwurm, all of which are domesticated.

Etymology

The genus name of lindwurms — Draconis — comes from Latin for "dragon". The species name — serpens — comes from the Latin for "serpent", in reference to lindwurms having a serpent-like appearance.

Subspecies

There are three subspecies of lindwurm. All three are domesticated, but the larger two subspecies are more suited for a working life and form less intense bonds with their handlers. The smallest of the three is the most common for use as a pet, and they form extremely close bonds with their handlers and families. The subspecies are as follows:

Wavecrasher Lindwurm — the largest of the three subspecies

Tidebringer Lindwurm — the second-largest of the three subspecies

Reefhugger Lindwurm — the smallest of the three subspecies. This subspecies is primarily found in Litzan-Ketteresk

Domestication

All subspecies of lindwurm are domesticated. Most individuals are used to help fisherpeople catch their quarries, although some are kept simply as pets. The smallest of the lindwurms form strong bonds with their handlers. In some circumstances, they have been known to starve themselves when their handlers die.

Appearance

Lindwurms have certain features in common. These features include having one head; one tail; elongated bodies; and a single pair of forelegs, which may or may not be able to grasp and manipulate objects. The presence of hind legs is dependent on the subspecies. Most lindwurms have glands located behind their jaws and shoulders which secrete a thick, oily substance which they use to keep their skin from cracking.

Reproduction

Lindwurms are a sexually-reproducing, oviparous species. They lay up to 6 eggs per clutch, although only between 2 to 4 eggs ever hatch in larger clutches. Lindwurms have a single mating season of three months in the winter. These mating seasons only occur once every four years, although there is at least one clutch per any year in each nesting group.

Eggs are laid at the beginning of summer and hatch by the end of summer. The lindwurm will stay with its parents for roughly twenty years as part of the nesting group.

Scientific Name

Draconis serpens

Number of Subspecies

3

Number of Domesticated Subspecies

3