Soltudo

The Soltudo are desert-dwelling tortoises. Their shells and horns have a high degree of flux saxum which allows them to easily adjust their shape.
Under their shell is a pouch in which they store water for several weeks. For this reason, the Soltudo are often hunted by desperate desert hikers.
However, with a little care and knowledge of animals, these creatures can also be used as mounts.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Soltudo are large, tetrapeds that live in the desert. They are timid and boast have a powerful shell interspersed with flux saxum, which often shimmers through cracks in the shell. The four horns on a Soltudos head are also interspersed with saxum and can be enlarged in the mating season, both male and female Soltudo have horns. Its neck is flexible and can be pulled back into the shell to survive sandstorms with ease.
When a sandstorm is too strong, Soltudo have been seen which encapsulate themselves fully with their shell.

Biological Traits

The shell as well as the horns of the Soltudo are interspersed with flux saxum which makes them transformable.

Genetics and Reproduction

Soltudo mate in the nights of the Hie, because at these times also the desert cools down a little.
In this time one sees the Soltudo usually in smaller groups in which the males fight each other, in order to compete for the female.
The winner is not the male who injures the other most, but the one who first throws his opponent on his back.
For this they extend their horns by the effect of Flux-Signum and try to throw the opponent around.
After mating, the female lays the fertilized eggs, in bulks of 3-5 eggs, and then takes them over her shell into the water pocket. Their shell also serves as an incubator.
The young hatch after approximately one month, remain however for approximately 3 months in the shell of the female until their shell begins to form.

Growth Rate & Stages

Soltudo eggs hatch after approximately one month, after which they spend their time in their mother's shell for another three months. During this time, the mother will toss carcasses to them to feed on. After this period, the shell begins to form on the back of the young.
Now that they too have a shell, their mother leaves them on their own devices.
While the trait to transform their shell is inherited, it is not fully hardened until another four month, after that the shell grows with the Soltudo.
Soltudo are fully grown at the age of 15 and sexually mature at 20.

Ecology and Habitats

Soltudo live in the desert and dig themselves into the sand up to the shell during the day. With the help of the flux saxum, they can transform these shells to adapt to their surroundings and attract prey. A popular camouflage of the Soltudo is a water source, transforming its shell so that the water inside appears and looks like it is surrounded by stones to give the appearance of an oasis.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The main prey of the Soltudo is the Vello , however, since the Soltudo is quite sluggish in contrast to them he uses a special strategy. The flux saxum in his tank allows the soltudo to transform it freely.
Often a soltudo digs in, transforms his shell into a water source by opening his tank and giving the water there free and waiting for his prey to drink.

Biological Cycle

Soltudo behave the same throughout the year; sluggish. Only during the mating season do males become aggressive when near other males.

Additional Information

Domestication

Soltudo can be domesticated and used as a mount, but only few Vinima know the taming process and rarely pass this on to outsiders.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The last way out for a thirsty group is often to smash the Soltudo shell to drink the water underneath. The animal survives such a procedure but suffers severe pain.

Facial characteristics

The face of the Soltudo features four horns which they use in the mating season for fighting. Like their tanks, these are interspersed with saxum and can be enlarged.

Lifespan

110 Years

Average Height

1.2m

Average Weight

600 Kg

Average Length

1.5m

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dark grey shell with light grey to yellowish skin