Hylian Ikh
The common Ikh, or Hylian Ikh, is a serpentine creature native to Kyberus, and has since been found invasive to Atlas, and remote sightings along Iskaar. It derives its name from the common color, looking blue-gray, and coming from an old ryclin folk story of the species descending down from the planet Hylas. The common Ikh is long, most often blue-gray (with rare colors of muted gray, a strange melanin purple, and albino), has two longer guiding fins on the side sometimes referred to as wings, and a dorsal tail and fin. It most often swims, but can breath and crawl along land just as easily, though its not entirely sure how the same species has adapted to salt and freshwater. It hosts three lips, with curving inner teeth that grip and pull prey, while a strong tongue can help guide it down its mouth. They are not toxic, however have tight body muscles that can constrict prey that's already been eaten. They don't hibernate or stay in freezing lake waters, instead choosing to migrate around the drop of regional temperature, though some old will just stay and die off.
Ikh are infamous for varying in sizes. They can be as long and large as a terran garden snake, or great enough to churn waves and rattle boats in near epic proportions. It often depends on their life cycle, which body of water they often inhabit, and how much they've consumed. They essentially don't stop growing until they die at a late age. Some humans have used stories of sea monsters to compare with the larger entities. As a result, they're sometimes given many nicknames, like the tri-jaw snake, to the Kyberus Kraken.
Ryclins of recent time have perceived them as a bountiful risk and reward prey, fearing the potential for them to bite first (though a prey-sized Ikh will almost never try to eat the ryclin back, just a defensive bite) or coil and drown them, but speaking fondly of flavor. In more commercial or processing methods, tiny Ikhs have been farmed to stay small and cryo-preserved to present to ryclins like a tangled noodle bowl, while a minority of humans have even used similar in small dishes.
Basic Information
Dietary Needs and Habits
Ikhs are entirely carnivores, and only eat other races by fitting their maw around them, and constricting them inside their throat. They don't often eat much larger prey than proportional to their own size, however they can grow up to great lengths, making the larger sea roaming elders a danger to all life.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Ikhs have no eyes, and are visually blind. They however host great nerves, and small sensory stalks that measure smell and temperature.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Males are distinguished and likely breed with a larger and more vibrant top-fin, or crest, and often hold shinier wings. Its believed females only sense this in motion rather than their blind vision, but some also believe its rather a byproduct of a male produced oil or hormone that draws a mate.
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