My entry for Steve's Kreature contest - [link]

Had a lot of fun with this one - started off with "venomous mammal" and went on from there. Part of the fun of the Kreatureverse is that it allows me to go a bit crazier than I normally allow myself with critter designing, so I got to let myself go a bit!

I especially love the stubby little wings, though I think they could stand to look a bit more useless. I rather like the idea of wings that don't allow for flight, but have some other use.

And now, the important stuff!


Phyret

Pronunciation: FY-ret

Rank: C
Height: 1.5'
Length: 8'
Wingspan: 2.5'
Weight: 80lb

Overview

Phyrets are musteline kreatures with a particularly unusual adaptation - they are venomous. Unlike many animals, though, which synthesise their own venom internally, the phyret gets it from a symbiont - a particular species of algae found only within this kreature's body. The algal cells are housed within the skin cells of the membranes of the phyret's stubby, batlike wings. These wings are useless for flight, but can allow the animal to glide. When resting, phyrets seek out high places in the treetops and spread their wings to catch the sunlight. The algae living within the membrane contribute towards the green colouration of the wings, while the rest of the body is a mottled brown colour to aid with camoflague. The algae may photosynthesise at any time of year but must be provided with enough sunlight, meaning that in the coldest months of winter, temperate individuals will place "sunbathing" at around midday at high priority. They will also enter torpid states when sleeping in winter - though this is far from true hibernation, it allows them to conserve energy, meaning that they eat less and as such require less venom for hunting. Obviously, phyrets are diurnal year round.

Phyrets are stealthy, arboreal hunters, tracking their prey via both scent and vision (they have surprisingly good eyesight for a mammal, though their eyes are best at spotting movement rather than detail) and weakening it by slashing with the enlarged claws on their forepaws to inject the algal venom into the victim's body. The venom can cause death or sluggishness depending on the victim's size and rank, and the phyret uses its well developed senses to track down the prey afterwards. They are solitary animals that mark out a large territory with their strong scent glands, coming together only to breed. A litter averages about four kits, which will disperse and stake out their own territories as soon as they are old enough to hunt for themselves.

Basic Powers/Weapons

Its most well known attack is its venomous claws, the enlarged inner claws on each forepaw, which inject venom into the victim. The venom is produced by the algal symbionts within the wings, and as such the phyret is entirely dependent on these symbionts for its signature attack - if they are lost, then no more venom can be produced. The venom acts on the nervous system of the victim, being fatal to smaller, lower ranked kreatures and producing sluggishness and longer reaction times in larger and/or higher ranks. The venom is only ever injected via the specialised foreclaws, nowhere else. However, the normal claws and teeth are also razor sharp and not to be underestimated. The scent glands can also discharge a particularly foul smelling liquid onto the opponent.

Phyrets are incapable of true flight as their wings are too stubby, but they are good at gliding from tree to tree in the pursuit of prey, increasing their mobility in their environment. In addition to this, they are excellent climbers. The undersides of all four paws and the tip of the tail are furrless, the skin covered with microscopic setae similar to that of a gecko which increases their grip. Finally, the highly prehensile tail can be charged with energy to create a powerful whiplike attack.

Senses
Vision: 7
Hearing: 7
Taste: 2
Smell: 8
Touch: 5

Disposition: Phyrets are not particularly aggressive kreatures, but they have a strong hunting instinct and a sharp eye for moving objects in particular. It is generally best to help vent these instincts through play, though care must be take to avoid the venomous claws.

Diet: An entirely obligate carnivore, the phyret must eat only meat to survive. In the wild they generally focus on smaller, lower ranked kreatures as prey.

Habitat: Phyrets are forest animals with that range around the eastern forests of North Kaizaa. This kreature lives in both the more northerly temperate forests and the southern monsoon forests, the northern subspecies being a little more thickset and less active in the winter, as well as being rarer.

Strengths: Phyrets excel in 3D environments, especially forests where, not only can they make best use of their abilities, but their colouration gives them excellent camoflaugue, allowing them to perform sneak attacks. In this sort of terrain they are speedy and efficient hunters.

Weaknesses: Phyrets are poor competitors on open terrain, where their climbing abilities are useless and their short legs impede their running speed. The wings are also fairly delicate and can be easily ripped, and the rest of the body is lightweight and not built for strength. It also has no ranged attacks.