Sormsnapper

Ever since the rapid speciation of pedesorm species on Maineiac, species have begun to exploit this now abundant group of binucleozoans. One of these species is the sormsnapper. Splitting from its ancestor, its flight has improved greatly, now capable of traveling over long distances in search of prey. Their feathers are still black, as it helps them keep warm in cooler climates, like the boreal. However, they cannot tolerate extremely dry or cold environments. This prevented them from spreading into Maineiac's peak, alpine, desert, high desert, tundra, and polar scrub. They have lost some fingers because they aren't used as often. The claws on the ends of these fingers have proven to be effective against prey if their bite doesn't kill them immediately. Like the fruitsnapper, it has lost most of its ancestor's adaptations, other than its powerful lungs and thick leg skin, as their superior respiratory systems help them fly long distances and their thick leg skin helps them resist grassland subspecies miner pedesorm attacks. Their beaks are now dominated by sharp, flesh-tearing teeth. However, because most pedesorm species possess a strong shells, the teeth in the back of their beaks are flat and well suited for crushing even the strongest shells. It usually sits atop high places and uses them alongside its keen eyesight to spot prey. When it spots prey, it will take off and approach its prey. It will then suddenly land next to its prey, attacking it while it lands. If its prey lacks a shell or has a weak shell, it will bite their neck or head, usually killing it instantly. In the case of hard-shelled species, it will use their beaks to grab and crush the pedesorm's shell, causing serious injury, if not death. After killing its prey, it will pick it up with its taloned feet (or if it's small enough, it's beak) and fly to a safer place, where predators are less likely to attack it while it is feeding. It's stomach is incredibly strong, capable of digesting fragments of crushed, stony pedesorm shells. The only pedesorm species they can't eat is the poison pedesorm, which can be potentially lethal if eaten. Due to their large size, they usually nest on the ground, as most trees can't withstand the combined weight of the male and female sormsnappers, nest, and the hatchlings. Because many species of predators would easily be able to kill and eat the eggs and hatchlings, parental care is vital. After laying her eggs, the female will sit on the eggs while the male gathers food to feed the female. If a predator attacks the nest, the female will attack the predator with its sharp talons and toothy beak. If the male is around while the nest is being attacked, it too will fight off the predator. The only species that are a challenge to fight off are camobacks, Coalskin Skywatchers, and Riparian Scorpodiles. However, with all of these species being ambush predators, they rarely attack sormsnapper nests. Harvester pedesorms are also known for raiding sormsnapper nests, but this is rare because they are eaten by sormsnappers, and there is almost always a sormsnapper guarding the nest. When the young hatch, the parents continue to guard the hatchlings. In the mountains, sormsnappers will nest atop high ledges. This keeps predators away from the hatchlings. If a hatchling were to fall off the ledge, it will use its claws to help it scale the mountains and return to the nest if it isn't too injured. The male and female will take turns catching prey to feed the hatchlings and guarding the nest. This method of parental care has proven to be quite effective. After the young learn to fly and leave the nest, the male and female will part ways.