Threadtail

Anatomy

I cannot say much about wild threadtails, but I know every little detail about domesticated threadtails, as they are everywhere. They have an unusually thin body, with ribs that completely circle all of the vital organs. Necks of the threadtails are longer than the body, and the tails are longer than the necks. Their heads are long, thin, ending in large spikes pointing both upwards and downwards, with their eyes sitting on the ends of their snouts. On the tip of the tail is a small, kite shaped feature that is incredibly sharp.

Flexibility

Threadtails are so flexible people will pay to see threadtails perform stunts. They are an absolute rip-off; I was forced to pay one whole white rune for a five minute show. I left a very bad review. Threadtails are able to bend in every direction one can imagine, decrease their body size to fit into tight spaces, and their scales are slightly springy.

Colour-Changing Scales

During mating season, male threadtails have the fascinating ability to change the colour of their scales. Able to shift colours multiple times a second, males impress females by putting on a mesmerising show with their scales. With advanced light manipulation, people have harnessed this colour-changing ability, but it is not nearly as efficient as the dragons themselves.

Habitat

From information sourced elsewhere, threadtails enjoy wetland biomes. The only time I have ever spotted a wild threadtail was in an island in the Botanic Bogs, and it was camouflaged absolutely flawlessly. They use their slim bodies to sneak past predators, and their scales to hide in the murky waters to hunt prey. As a semi-aquatic species, they have no trouble on land, in the water, or even in the air.

Threadtail by Mochi

Threadtails are bred for their specific patterns and colours, this being an example of a rare and expensive breed. Element
Nature

Lifespan

70 years

Average Height

3 metres

Average Length

19 metres

Geographic Distribution

• Botanic Bogs

Relationships & Reproduction

Eggs

Female threadtails lay 5-8 eggs in a single clutch, once a year during mating season. With no specific island location they prefer to nest on, they will take over the comfiest area nearby. More often than not domestic threadtails will nest on rooftops, and the footsteps drive homeowners insane. I have a pair of threadtails that nest on my neighbours roof, have done for 6 years. I'm pretty sure the next breeding season if they don't leave he'll hunt them and roast them, he's that annoyed.
The eggs themselves are a brown and green colour, mottled to camouflage with its foresty surroundings. In more recent years the colours have been fading to a more pale colour, as most threadtails are domesticated and there is no need for the eggs to be camouflaged.

Courtship

Threadtails have a very interesting courtship. Going feral for a period of time is commonly seen in young threadtails, ones that are only recently sexually mature. Males will attempt to impress females with their colour-shifting scales. They will create a beautiful show for the females, and if they are impressed they shall mate. Males will only perform a show for the females when looking for a partner, which they keep for the rest of their lives. They will perform mini-shows for the females though, just to keep the spark alive. Cute.

Nests

In the wild, threadtails weave huge branches through mangrove trees, creating a kind of helmet for the trees. They leave one hole in the top, and then proceed to embed moss, lichen, feathers, scales into the sides of the nests for protection and warmth.
I've only ever seen one colony of wild threadtail nests, and they were all abandoned. I counted 345 nests, so about 700 dragons in total. They prefer trees that are spaced out, which means they know exactly what territory is theirs.