Evanike

"Neither a proper drake or a proper bird, the evanike seems to exhibit a strange biology..."

— Research notes on the evanike and their anatomy

Quarrel-like

Found gliding through the rainforests of the Eight Lands, the evanike is a small predator with a curious anatomy. Their body resembles that of a drake with an elongated neck, and they have feathered membranes between their front legs and their lower torso, giving them the ability to glide for a short distance. Additionally, they also have feathers along the end of their tail which share the same colouration as their wing membranes; a white body with a soft red tip.
Their eyes pierce through the mist of the forests easily with their bright yellow iris against the black sclera, and their deep green scales blend easily in the surroundings. Though they do have feather covered ears, evanike are entirely deaf, leaving their acute sense of smell to pick up the task of tracking any animals they hunt.
Evanike hunt alone, and prefer to rip through their prey with their razor sharp, black talons before taking it back to their burrow to eat.

Born Silent

Due to their deafness, evanike have no vocalizations, however they can communicate through moving the feathers on their ears.
Once an evanike finds a mate and that mate has accepted them, they are bonded for life, and will hold their territory until they die. Evanike reproduce in the winters, giving their offspring the warmer months to survive with relative ease before they mature by the next winter. They lay several eggs each year, most of which succumb to the hunger of the firstborn. Once matured, evanike will remain at the edges of their parents territory until they find a mate to hold their own territory with, sometimes leading to them fighting their own parents.

Lifespan

Up to 15 years

Average Height

Approx. 1 foot at the shoulder

Average Weight

20 to 25lbs

Average Length

1.8 to 2.4 feet