Whiptail Hydra
Simply known as the Hydra in Dekarth, this species of hydra is known for lurking deep within the Golgelen Jungle. They are mostly serpentine, with the exception of powerful forearms that they use to help guide their slithering movements -- or climb the massive trees that make up their jungle environment. They go by many different names; such as the whiptail hydra due to their potential to carry multiple tails at once, or the jade hydra due to their lush scales.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Jade Hydras are easy to identify from their unique body size and colorful green scales. Unlike most hydras, they're mostly serpentine, with the exception lying in a set of powerful forearms found just beneath their heads. These arms end with four wicked claws that they use to latch into prey -- or help them scale along the massive trees found throughout the woods.
Jade Hydras have a notably long body that they slither with; their tails also carry the same regenerative qualities as their necks. This often leads to them carrying more than one tail at once, which can be used to whip or lash at prey.
As with many hydras, their necks are capable of regenerating; felling one head without cauterizing or melting the stump will cause the neck to rapidly regenerate a second and third one. To date, there hasn't been a limitation to this extraordinary ability. Their tail is also capable of doing the same, leading to the creation of multiple tails that are capable of lashing and wrapping around prey like tendrils.
Ecology and Habitats
A jungle's environment is their preferred one; due to their forearms being specifically designed to help scale and slither their bulk up along trees or other vertical surfaces to bask in the sun that hangs over the top of the canopy. As nocturnal predators, they benefit greatly from colder or cooler nights due to their reliance on detecting prey through heat.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Hydras are expressly carnivorous creatures, their favoured prey is the Golgelen Boar, but they will happily munch on just about anything unfortunate enough to be caught within their coils and heads.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
The jade hydra is among the most prestigious kills one could earn in Dekarth; they're dangerous beasts, often requiring a party of highly trained hunters to bring one down. Generally speaking, they're only ever hunted, but there are a few notable products that come from this.
Their blood for instance, is often used in alchemy in order to synthesize special regenerative tonics. Despite common belief however, it isn't the blood that inherently bestows regeneration to the hydra, but a substance pumped into it through a special gland found just beneath the base of the neck. This gland is often extracted, producing a nutrient-rich substance that's important in high quality medical potions.
Their meat is generally considered a delicacy; however, it's often difficult to prepare and requires high temperatures to sear the flesh, lest it continues regenerating and bleeding a mess in wherever it's stored. Despite that, some 'prepare' hydra meat by purposefully allowing it to regenerate to its fullest size before prepping it.
Scales from this particular hydra are on par with drakes or dragon scales, making them a popular choice for armour.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The beasts carry two sensory organs that are important to their hunting patterns through the jungle; one being that each head has a pair of eyes, and the other being a second set of special pits that look like a pair of dull, red dots. These pits are often mistaken as a second set of eyes, but are actually a pair of special sensory organs that allow the beast to better detect differences in temperature. This allows the hydra to hunt creatures more easily during the night.
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