Maijarran Manticore
| Maijarran Manticore | |
|---|---|
| Base Information | |
| Classification | Scavenger/intimidator |
| Terrain | Varies, shoreline, cliffs, mountains and aquatic environments |
| Locomotion | Triphibian |
| Size | 800kg |
| Speed | 1 (normal human speed), faster flight |
| Strength | they can lift about half of their mass aloft under optimal conditions. |
| Social Structure | nests of 2-4 young, mated pairs. |
| Weapons | claws |
| Armor | jack equivalent skin, hard internal structures |
| Source | |
| Homeworld | Maijarra ([[Hryaroaa Subsector Sector|Hryaroaa Subsector]] Reaver's Deep) |
| Multi-world | No |
| Canon | No |
| Extinct | Extant |
| Reference | Author: Ronald B. Kline, Jr. |
Maijarran Manticore (Creature) Synopsis
This is a non-intelligent creature native to Maijarra (world) (CA58ADD-7) in the Hryaroaa Subsector of the Reaver's Deep Sector. They are triphibians.
Maijarran Manticore (Creature) Physiology & Ecology
Full grown adults of this species mass up to 800kg.
It is quite unusual for organisms of this mass, on a large planet, with a thin atmosphere to be able to achieve this feat. Admittedly the "flight" is limited but shocking to observers none the less.
They have vast colonies of symbiotic obligate anerobic species which are native to their bodies as their only known habitat. These produce hydrogen rich compounds which in turn provide buoyancy. The sacs inflate as they sun themselves. They climb to high perches after meals for a long digestive process that is very efficient and complete. These gases are the only major metabolic by-product and help them float.
They have two complete sets of complimentary wing structures. The anterior set are larger and facilitate gliding, soaring and are vascular enough to act as thermoregulatory radiators as needed. The posterior set of wings are smaller and more heavily muscled and provide thrust and lift. They are motile enough to help grip when climbing and perching and are used to facilitate mating. The wings assist with swimming while submerged as well. Taking off from the water's surface can be difficult because of their size. They maybe required to sun themselves to allow the hydrogen compounds to accumulate to facilitate lift off.
Manticores have a signifigant thermal signature because of the heat of the decomposition within their bodies. They are flexible in terms of the acquisition of gases and can filter out what they need from the atmosphere or the hydrosphere with equal efficiency.
The ventral surface has four sets of appendages which help them walk, climb and swim. On the ground they are not particularly fast, about the speed of a human. The dorsal surface between the wings toward the anterior end has for pairs of appendages that are specialized as "claws". These are used for self defense and to kill competitive species.
Maijarran Manticore (Creature) Life Cycle & Reproduction
The amphibian manticores are homeothermic and have two genders.
One becomes reproductive when metabolic energy levels permit, during lean times they don't reproduce. A small number of embryonic clones with identical "genetic" coding are grown internally. During copulation these are transferred to the other gender which provides no genetic contribution. The host gender's internal conditions and metabolic responses to current climate conditions determine if the clones emerge as cloners or host genders. The hosts feed voraciously for several local cycles and then "nest".
Subspecies nest among rocky crags, cliffs, caves in mountainous areas. Others nest underwater. Some partially bury themselves in various soil substrates. The cloner gender then hunts for carrion and builds up energy reserves. Periodically it returns to its host/mate and feeds it a nutrient fluid its body produces for this function. Pheromones from the host trigger the production of this nutrient which doesn't get made otherwise.
The growing embryos eventually consume the host gender from within and emerge when more fully developed. The integumentary husk and the harder internal structures of the host provide protective shelter for the newly emerged young. Chemicals released by the host's body may continue to promote feeding behaviors. The other parent may continue to feed the "dead" host which the young take advantage of. They must wait and photosynthesize long enough to be able to fly off and establish their own territory. All of the emerging young are of one gender or the other and all are "genetically" similar.
Maijarran Manticore (Creature) Diet & Trophics
Their dietary classification is that they are scavengers and intimidators. Their unusual biochemistry involves higher temperature biochemical waste products from the anerobic portion of their colonial metabolism. They are capable of aerobic and anerobic pathways to acquire energy.
The harder to digest portions (the local equivalents of exoskeletons, claws, teeth, shells and bones) of the carrion ingested are ground up internally and used as a growth nutrient medium for the rich microbiotic fauna and flora. These include photo and chemosynthetic autotrophs. The central core of the organism is a very strong matrix of long chain polysaccharides imbedded with nitrogen and metals like aluminum for surprising structural strength per kg of mass. The anerobes cover the integument and the photosynthesizers provide the deep green color.
The anterior "mouth" is surrounded by feeding palps and tactile, olfactory and thermal sensor stalks. There are several internal grinding surfaces for pulverizing body parts. They don't however "bite". They use the feeding palps to tear the carrion into small enough pieces to ingest. Corrosive digestive enzymes are secreted to depolymerize the meal.
Once they arrive in the location of the carrion they swoop in to intimidate the other gathered species, their deadly claws slashing all in their path, their size and the foul secretions of digestive chemicals they spray on the kill to claim it is toxic to most other species and renders the flesh poisonous to other organisms.
Maijarran Manticore (Creature) History & Background (Dossier)
Despite the huge population of Yslai on that planet small pockets of breeding populations of this endangered species persist.
Native Yslai use the significant thermal signature of the Maijarran Manticore to detect and avoid them. They also discovered early on during planetary colonization that they are extremely flammable.
Maijarran Manticore (Creature) TAS Advisory
Trophy hunters from the imperium and the Aslan Hierate are warned to avoid getting caught by the Isaiat Dominate authorities, as local punishment is quite severe as the local law level indicates.
Maijarran Manticore (Creature) References & Contributors (Sources)
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis), Captain, and Lead Naval Architect Ronald B. Kline, Jr. of the Imperial Navy
- Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science