Crested Puffpoison

Anatomy

These dragons have a tubby body, with a long neck and long tail. Their scales are primarily a light yellow, but with striped black and purple ones on their bellies. Their hind legs are large, and can be used to kick others, while their front arms are pathetically short, ending in a single talon. Their wings sit above their front arms, with a short thumb and long fingers. Their wingskin is thin, a yellow with an purple outer border between each finger, and black scales on their fingers.

Scales

Mostly bright yellow, the scales are tough and can be used for armour. Keep in mind they are coated in a thin saliva, so the armour can be uncomfortable. Best to wear something underneath. There are also black and purple scales, found on the underbelly and under the tail, on the crest, and around the wings.

Crest

Almost certain that the crest has many functions, most commonly for energy. The large surface area from bumps in the crest absorb more light. The crests are also used for mating purposes, attracting the other sex, and for scaring off predators by making them seem larger than they are.

Sexual Dimorphism

Females possess a much smaller crest, meaning males mostly attract females. Their black and purple stripes are thinner and more frequent, as well as their primary colour scales being much lighter. The scales are also thicker on females, with more saliva coating them.

Habitat

Crested puffpoisons enjoy a warm climate. I've spotted them on seventeen islands, all of which have an average temperature of 30 degrees or higher. I've mostly tracked them in forest environments, except for during breeding season when they inhabit their beaches in large colonies. The biggest population of crested puffpoisons is on Kazaharo Cliffs, about 30,000 individuals.

Crested Puffpoison by Mochi

Element
Air

Lifespan

40 years

Average Height

1.5 metres (without crest)

Average Length

10 metres

Geographic Distribution
Etrea
Greenpeak
Sandstone Isles
Scarred Sands

Relationships & Reproduction

Relationship Seals

At the start of a pair's first breeding season, the male will surprise the female with a large mound of sand, dirt, and silt on the beach of their nesting ground. The female will conduct a thorough test of the mound, testing its strength and ability to hold a pair of puffpoisons and a clutch of eggs. If the female is satisfied, she shall lay her eggs in the mound and incubate them. If the female is not satisfied, she will chase the male away.

Eggs

Very unusual, crested puffpoison eggs appear to be two eggs merged together. One half of the egg contains the body, the other half of the egg contains the crest which has not hardened yet - it is incredibly soft and malleable. The eggs themselves follow the same colour scheme as the parents, mostly yellow with splotches of black and purple.
Currently only one known breeding ground of this species exists, along the beaches of Greenpeak. Most of the planet's population will migrate to this island in mating seasons in order to mate and lay eggs.

Crested Puffpoison Egg by Mochi

Parenting

Crested puffpoisons make good parents. Nay. The best parents. During incubation and raising young, crested puffpoisons are arguably the most territorial dragon in existence. They will fight to the death to protect their young, and for some unexplained reason, they seem to be much stronger. They have been seen to kill demoisilions, dragons they would never normally be able to kill. Hatchlings will stay with both parents for up to 3 years, before they will leave the mound and search for a mate. It is a sad time when hatchlings leave their parents, the adults have even been seen mourning their children that are very much alive.

Defense Mechanisms

Fire

Crested puffpoisons breathe a white fire, about 2,400ºF to 2,700ºF, barely tough enough to melt steel. When breathed, this fire can reach up to 5 metres from the mouth, and will crispen the skin of anyone within a few metres radius.

Poisonous Saliva

These dragons can secrete amounts of poisonous saliva from between their scales when they feel threatened, from large salivary glands located in their heads, in their tails, and near their stomachs that responds to its environment. When the creature feels threatened, the salivary glands will send the saliva throughout the body, and it will be secreted through the gaps between the scales.

Dragon Hunting

Crested puffpoisons have been subjected to dragon hunting for hundreds of years. Their scales are tough, and so are valuable for hunters. The heat of the fire is rare in dragon species, and hunters like to use these dragons to fight others, usually for sport.

Ekeri Hunters

The Ekeri Hunters are the most prolific crested puffpoison hunters on the planet. Wearing dragonscale armour made from this species, their tribal designs are all based on the dragons too, and while they seemingly worship the species, they also love to hunt them.

Savarian Black Market

The Savarian Black Market is usually stocked full of live crested puffpoisons, and the products of them. It is an easy place to buy the scales, the poisonous saliva, and live dragons. The black market is favoured by hunters because of this.

Feeding Habits

Crested puffpoisons need to eat a lot of food to sustain themselves. They prey on small dragon species, like daggerclaws and night lights, but also bigger non-dragons that can't defend themselves as well, like cattle. The creatures they consume do not live on their beach mating grounds, so when females are incubating eggs only the males leave to find prey.

Okay, can you tell me anything about why you hunt these dragons?
It's fun, y'know. I love 'unting down dragons, it's a great way to pass the time. Me and the crew cut their wings so the buggers can't fly, then we chase them around the island until we capture them, makes it fun.

— Jerna interviewing a dragon hunter