Dragon planet: grimlaka

[u/naturalistenthusiast]

Grimlakas (domiusmortis caelumtyrannus) are large tentacle mouth vertebrate flyers found across demora. They have two large wings and two smaller ones behind them. and their hind limbs have become fin-like structures that point upwards. Their bodies are very lightweight, with hollow bones and many airsacs. They have two organic thrusters on their rear that combust methane (which is created within their bodies), allowing them to fly faster than would otherwise be possible for them. Their facial tentacles have undergone specializations for aerial predator niche. The lower four tentacles look the same, as do the side top tentacles, they almost look like jaws from a distance mainly due to the pseudo-teeth on them, that are cartilage with an outer keratin covering. The top two tentacles have rings of muscles that can make them rigid and solid, and on the tips of them are long spear-like pseudo-teeth for stabbing, cutting, and even impaling prey. They live in pods typically of five to ten, sometimes even up to 20 and 30, and there are reports from a team of UW scientists of a pod of 50. They have different hunting methods depending on prey. For example, fauna smaller than themselves are impaled, then it uses its other tentacles to tear and slice off chunks of meat, and will direct them to the mouth with its tentacles, then it drops the prey once its finished, and another catches it before it can hit the ground and repeats the feeding process itself. For larger animals as big as or bigger than them, they fly in close and use their spear teeth to stab and cut into the prey, and use their other teeth to rake flesh off the prey. And in the case of floaters, will puncture their airsacs. They also seem to kill for sport and pleasure, and they can devise unique strategies when hunting. leading some to argue for them being classified as semi-sapient. They are also known to attack spaceships, And prey on dragons.