Regal Sphinx

With no natural predators within their ancestral homeland, the population of the electro spelunkhoe inevitably continued to grow, only kept in check by the amount of food available. When food sources were low, mass migrations would occur, the first and, for the time, most prominent of which gave rise to the Hikahoe and its descendants. This migration wave would not be the last, however, and would be followed by several other, smaller waves which typically fared poorly: the participants of these were often times overwhelmed by predators or succumbed to the elements. This went on until, after several thousand years, a particularly fruitful series of decades led to much floral abundance in Electro Limestone Caves, which in turn led to a massive increase in the spelunkhoe population within. When food sources eventually dwindled, though, starvation followed. To avoid death, one of the largest migration known for the species was undergone, all in the search of new food sources. As they left the cave system, the wave eventually split into three, all of which went their separate ways. The regal sphinx - sometimes referred to as royal sphinxes due to the coloration of the males - came about from the wave that went westwards towards the deeper boreal wilderness. Similar to their cousin, the phouka, which also inhabits the same region, they have adapted well to the local cuisine. Dining upon a wide variety of small flora and tiny fauna, they grow fat on vermees, minikruggs, and various rooted purple flora. They prefer to dwell near ponds and lakes that abound about the region, and have thus adapted to this lifestyle by developing a limited capacity to swim. They will, however, only swim during the spring and summer months, as otherwise the waters are too cold to dwell in. Compared to its ancestor, the regal sphinx has evolved to become larger and more robust, a necessity for surviving in a cooler environment. Their feet have become larger, with fleshy pads that help them to avoid sinking in the mud and even freshly fallen snow. Males posses a prominent scarlet crest, which they use to display their health and strength to potential mates, as well as a striking green hue on the skin of their heads. Females, meanwhile, lack these features, being fairly drab in comparison. Regal sphinxes mate for life, with both parents caring for the young as they carry them about in their pouches. Because of this, females tend to produce four to six offspring with every mating. While typically inhabiting the highlands most of the year, when the cold touch of winter begins to settle down upon the land, the regal sphinx will head down from the hills, traveling along the riverbanks. A plethora of various riverside dwelling flora and fauna abound in these regions, providing them with a rich bounty to nourish themselves upon. Small groupings, brought together by happenstance, become incredibly common in these warmer regions during the winter. They will seek out mates during these times, and will start to raise their families here was as well. Once the young are large enough, they will travel alongside their parents back into the boreal regions once the warm of spring has returned to them.