Sprawlaclaw

The sprawlaclaw split from its ancestor and left the tundra behind, moving into the milder temperate and montane plains and scrubland which bordered it. This phlyer-of-prey is named for the sprawled arrangement of its talons, which is optimal for capturing and killing prey. The hind claws are longer than the front ones and have the most force behind them, allowing them to stab and kill whatever it snatches. Its claws, as well as its beak, are thorn-like and made of wood; though somewhat fragile, they can regrow very quickly when damaged. It uses anthocyanins in its skin to make it appear bluish or blue-violet, allowing it to blend in with the greater lahns which cover the ground without disrupting photosynthesis.

The sprawlaclaw soars through the air watching for small prey on the ground. When it spots something that it can eat, it will swoop down and stab it with its talons, killing it. It then uses its hooked beak to tear into the flesh and eat its prey. It can be likened to a hawk or an eagle for this reason. It can soar for hours at a time when necessary. It is generally solitary outside of mating season, which occurs in the spring.

The sprawlaclaw’s tail is very short and it has lost its ancestral stabilizers; only the top one remains, serving to guard its butt nostril. Its hind pair of wings serve as stabilizers instead, acting like a bird’s pygostyle. Its tympanic ears are set in a short ear canal, reducing the perceived noise from air rushing around its head. It uses all four legs together to perch in trees, and when at rest it will fold its wings over its back like a Terran butterfly to expose the greener undersides to sunlight. It can also stand on the ground, but its talons make it a poor walker, so it prefers some kind of perch such as being atop a ferine.

Much like its ancestor, the sprawlaclaw gives live birth, so to avoid being weighed down during pregnancy it only has one baby at a time. However, to ensure reproductive success a single female can produce as many as 6 offspring in a single spring. Like most plents, the sprawlaclaw's reproductive organs are in its throat and it both mates and gives birth through its mouth. Both parents contribute to raising their offspring, taking turns bringing them pieces of their kills. Nestlings remain with their parents even after they have learned to fly, so that they may learn to hunt without risk of starvation if they don’t get it right away. Once they can hunt, the juveniles leave their parents’ care and live on their own. The parents, too, will separate, returning to a solitary lifestyle.