Grelag

The Grelag, in contrast to its ancestor which probed the sand for eggs and tide pools for Scuttlers, seeks out much more visible food. It adapted readily to the new food supply of Shrog-spread organisms.

General Physiology & Behavior
Physically, most of its body has only minor differences from its ancestor: its thicker neck, straighter beak, a knob on its beak, a sturdier, rougher-looking beak, a slightly paler tail, slightly paler eyes, and different proportions when pregnant. Its biggest difference is its muscular, well-defined legs.

It is active in the daytime, and forages in open, sandy beach habitats with white sand in small flocks or two to four. Though it spends more time on the land of the beach than its ancestor, it is still semi-aquatic, with webbed feet which help it swim. As most of its food is terrestrial, it largely goes into the water to escape predators. Though it resembles a wingless seagull or goose, it walks and runs well, like a chicken or Indian runner duck. Usually, it runs away from predators. It has remarkable stamina and agility. Like its ancestor, it can repeatedly make vertical jumps to scare other fauna. Their leg structure is somewhat similar to that of human legs.

Grelags’ default response to threats is running away. If attacked, they make threat displays of beak-clacking and jumping. If further harassed, it will projectile-vomit and snap, bite, and jump forward to attack the predator.

Diet
The many fine serrations on the beak help it grip its small prey. Most of what it eats is one-sixth of its size or smaller. Fuzzweeds are one of the most common, strongly preferred things in its diet: it eats by uprooting them and swallowing them whole. Their destructive way of feeding on fuzzweeds prevents fuzzweeds from dominating the habitat of Jlindy Tropical Beach. Grelags compete somewhat with the Dixon Hookphlyer, due to similar diets. It occasionally scavenges, and is not deterred by any Dartirs or Dartir larvae on the meat. It has some resistance to being poisoned by decaying meat.

Other
As a plent, it mates and gives birth through its mouth. Its throat-womb is at the base of its neck, almost on its upper chest. Birthing is quick and easy: it can consciously control the muscle contractions to some extent. They usually birth two, sometimes three chicks.