Baron Signaltail

Splitting from its ancestor, the baron signaltail has doubled in length and become a major predator of the Drake continent. With its increase in size, the necessity of armor become less, thus the spikes that once covered the back of signaltails have degenerated into armor-like plates along its back. It's beak has become stronger, allowing them to bite through the shells of young sailmail with relative ease, though those of adult ones are far too hard. Despite this, they will instead tend to go after the neck and other regions devoid of armor, raking at them with sharp claws and biting down with beak and teeth. A prominent crest adorns the heads of these creatures, flushed with blood in order to communicate temperament between individuals, as well as the signals on their tails. While typically solitary, they will occasionally hunt together in order to bring down large prey such as adult sailmails. During these times they will use their communication skills in order to organize the attacks. Perhaps the most beneficial evolutionary adaption this species has evolved involves their eggs. No longer needing to be laid in water, they now instead lay leathery-shelled eggs. This allows them to stay on land without ever needing to return to lakes or the sea. They have also become protective of their nests, with both parents sticking together in order to watch over the young and taking turns to hunt for prey.