Finback Flunejaw

The finback flunejaw split from its ancestor. Due to being out-competed by the predatory signaltails, it moved southward into the Drake Temperate Woodland and expanded its range further out west in the grassland areas of Drake. In order for it to deal with competition from the baron signaltails that still live in the Drake Temperate Woodlands, it has evolved gray skin that helps it blend in with the lurcups and purple stripes that help it blend in with the leaves of luroots. The finback flunejaw has also evolved curved claws that allow it to have some capability to climb lurtresses. These adaptations give it a better chance at ambushing its prey within the forest.

As for everywhere else, it heavily utilizes its running capabilities. In order to do so, it has evolved longer legs, larger nostrils and lungs that take in more air than its ancestor. The finback flunejaw has also evolved a longer tail that helps keep its balance when turning different directions. Another way it has evolved is that it has dark purple marks that surround its eyes, which act similarly to sunglasses by reducing the amount of glare from the sun. The finback flunejaw gets its name because of the fin-like plates on its back that help minimize drag when it runs after prey.

When it hunts, it prefers to feed on pinyuks and desert gossalizards, but it can feed on the different phlyers that live in the forests. However, even among the phlyers, it prefers the gutsy phlyer and azure phlyer because of how they spend a good part of their time on the ground to find their food, which makes it easier for the finback flunejaw to hunt them. All other organisms are typically eaten if desperate enough.

The finback flunejaw has also evolved to raise its young for 10 months, which increases their chance for survival.