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Description

Most people catch only glimpses of this creature, a shadow of movement before it scrambles over a rock or the flash of obsidian right as it vanishes into the sand. Since it lives in arid climates, mainly in deserts, most folk don't see much of them at all. These brief sightings, however, are often enough to give the wrong impression. Ask these people what they think they saw, and most claim it was some kind of lizard, certainly a reptile. Its body is armored and its silhouette certainly brings to mind a lizard, but that isn't the answer. In truth, the monahuitl is actually a mammal! This is easier to accept once you get a real good look at a specimen, as you can see the fur that hides beneath its top plates of armor. This can be hard to see out in the wild, as the monahuitl tends to spend most of day buried in the sand, at least partially. When it is mostly submerged and on the hunt, all you could really notice is its black armoring and the rapid movements of its odd snout. The time it is actually out of the sand is at night, when the temperature has dropped considerably. Unfortunately, its black and brown coloration makes spotting them tough in the darkness, so you will still have a hard time getting a good look.

Both when buried during the day and out in the open at night, the monahuitl is on the prowl for something to eat. What it dines on are the various small critters found throughout the desert, like lizards, scorpions, snakes and rodents. However, most of these creatures are buried in the sand as well, so how do you find them? Their answer to that challenge is their specialized and strange snout. Built more like the bill of a bird, the monahuitl has a long flat mouth that is covered in harden plates and sharp protrusions. Though its has a wicked edge it to, there is more to this snout than you can see. The wide flat tip of this bill is packed with special sensors to help probe the sand and detect hiding prey. When they are hunting, you will see them rapidly swing this snout back and forth over the sand, trying to find a sign for dinner. This movement may look comical, but it quickly becomes terrifying to those who come face-to-face with it. When prey is located, they will use this bill to dig them up, and then will employ this same swinging technique to tear into them with its blade snout. Fast, wide swings turn this bill into a dangerous weapon, and it can leave some nasty cuts. Prey is usually brought down by a few hefty slashes, weakened enough for the monahuitl to move in and finish it off. The armored snout and body also allows it to avoid retaliation, as deadly stingers and venomous fangs will fail to pierce this protection. These tools also aid in deterring predators, as attacks from above will only hit their armor, and cornering this beast will have it use this nasty blade. It is also suggested that the tail of the monahuitl looks quite similar to its head, which may confuse predators. They won't know which end to attack, which gives the beast time to escape or fight back.

Funny enough, the misidentification of the monahuitl as a reptile gets brought up often, especially once they discovered how they birth their young. Unlike most mammals, the monahuitl actually lay eggs instead of giving live birth. These eggs are buried in the sand, where the heat of the sun upon the surface helps keep them warm. Once it was found out that these are egg layers, the whole debate started up again, with people thinking that this "fur" may actually be something less mammalian. However, we have also found other mammals that lay eggs, and the anatomy of this species still fits with the mammal criteria. Their young do still nurse on their mother's milk, but thankfully for her their bills don't develop the sharp edges until later.

Though they are tough to spot, the monahuitl has ingrained itself in local culture. Their odd appearance makes them memorable, and the weaponized bills make them legendary. Though their bills are a bit small to make real weapons out of, some think that it served as inspiration for similar tools. Their tendency to stand against predators much larger than them has given them an air of courage and stubbornness. It is no surprise that the symbol of the monahuitl can be found amongst warriors and competing teams. It is also said that the monahuitl can be befriended and used to help locate stuff buried in the desert sand. This belief has led to some folk thinking that these creatures can sniff out lost treasure, when in truth they are mainly looking for a tasty gecko or two.

They are so well known, that the locals actually have an origin myth for this species! According to them, a fabled warrior of their land was contacted by the gods and tasked with a crucial quest. They were to visit each of the great cities and spread the gods' heavenly decree. The warrior was told by the gods that this was a mission of peace, and that no weapons would be needed. The hero of the tale rounded up their most trusted compatriots and embarked on this quest. However, one of the warriors was doubtful of this mission. Knowing that the land was filled with vicious beasts and the ways to these cities were rife with danger, they decided to hide a single weapon upon their person: a macuahuitl. This offense made the gods angry, and as punishment, they caused the band of warriors to get hopelessly lost in a seemingly endless desert. For days, the hero and their compatriots struggled to find their way, but the scorching desert offered no direction. Having run out of water, it seemed only a matter of time before they succumbed to the deadly heat. While their fellow warriors gave in to frustration and defeat, the fabled hero tried to cobble together some solution to help this hopeless situation. When they rooted through the gear of the team for helpful supplies, they found the offending weapon hidden within. They took the club and threw it into the desert, where it suddenly transformed into a monahuitl. The newly formed beast then pointed its snout in a single direction and scurried forth. The band of warriors followed the beast, and it led them to an oasis. When they drank their fill and restocked their supplies, the monahuitl then showed them the way out of this desert, so that their quest could continue. Though the hero and their team departed the scorching wasteland, the monahuitl remained in its desert home. Legends say that this creature still aids the lost, leading them to water and shelter. Such help, however, only comes to those without malice. Those who are wicked at heart will find no help from the monahuitl, and attempts to approach the beast will cause it to attack. If you are sliced by its bill, then you are marked for death by the gods and doomed to perish in the desert.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------------

Looks like our platypus friends have more than just a venomous spur!

Description

Most people catch only glimpses of this creature, a shadow of movement before it scrambles over a rock or the flash of obsidian right as it vanishes into the sand. Since it lives in arid climates, mainly in deserts, most folk don't see much of them at all. These brief sightings, however, are often enough to give the wrong impression. Ask these people what they think they saw, and most claim it was some kind of lizard, certainly a reptile. Its body is armored and its silhouette certainly brings to mind a lizard, but that isn't the answer. In truth, the monahuitl is actually a mammal! This is easier to accept once you get a real good look at a specimen, as you can see the fur that hides beneath its top plates of armor. This can be hard to see out in the wild, as the monahuitl tends to spend most of day buried in the sand, at least partially. When it is mostly submerged and on the hunt, all you could really notice is its black armoring and the rapid movements of its odd snout. The time it is actually out of the sand is at night, when the temperature has dropped considerably. Unfortunately, its black and brown coloration makes spotting them tough in the darkness, so you will still have a hard time getting a good look.

Both when buried during the day and out in the open at night, the monahuitl is on the prowl for something to eat. What it dines on are the various small critters found throughout the desert, like lizards, scorpions, snakes and rodents. However, most of these creatures are buried in the sand as well, so how do you find them? Their answer to that challenge is their specialized and strange snout. Built more like the bill of a bird, the monahuitl has a long flat mouth that is covered in harden plates and sharp protrusions. Though its has a wicked edge it to, there is more to this snout than you can see. The wide flat tip of this bill is packed with special sensors to help probe the sand and detect hiding prey. When they are hunting, you will see them rapidly swing this snout back and forth over the sand, trying to find a sign for dinner. This movement may look comical, but it quickly becomes terrifying to those who come face-to-face with it. When prey is located, they will use this bill to dig them up, and then will employ this same swinging technique to tear into them with its blade snout. Fast, wide swings turn this bill into a dangerous weapon, and it can leave some nasty cuts. Prey is usually brought down by a few hefty slashes, weakened enough for the monahuitl to move in and finish it off. The armored snout and body also allows it to avoid retaliation, as deadly stingers and venomous fangs will fail to pierce this protection. These tools also aid in deterring predators, as attacks from above will only hit their armor, and cornering this beast will have it use this nasty blade. It is also suggested that the tail of the monahuitl looks quite similar to its head, which may confuse predators. They won't know which end to attack, which gives the beast time to escape or fight back.

Funny enough, the misidentification of the monahuitl as a reptile gets brought up often, especially once they discovered how they birth their young. Unlike most mammals, the monahuitl actually lay eggs instead of giving live birth. These eggs are buried in the sand, where the heat of the sun upon the surface helps keep them warm. Once it was found out that these are egg layers, the whole debate started up again, with people thinking that this "fur" may actually be something less mammalian. However, we have also found other mammals that lay eggs, and the anatomy of this species still fits with the mammal criteria. Their young do still nurse on their mother's milk, but thankfully for her their bills don't develop the sharp edges until later.

Though they are tough to spot, the monahuitl has ingrained itself in local culture. Their odd appearance makes them memorable, and the weaponized bills make them legendary. Though their bills are a bit small to make real weapons out of, some think that it served as inspiration for similar tools. Their tendency to stand against predators much larger than them has given them an air of courage and stubbornness. It is no surprise that the symbol of the monahuitl can be found amongst warriors and competing teams. It is also said that the monahuitl can be befriended and used to help locate stuff buried in the desert sand. This belief has led to some folk thinking that these creatures can sniff out lost treasure, when in truth they are mainly looking for a tasty gecko or two.

They are so well known, that the locals actually have an origin myth for this species! According to them, a fabled warrior of their land was contacted by the gods and tasked with a crucial quest. They were to visit each of the great cities and spread the gods' heavenly decree. The warrior was told by the gods that this was a mission of peace, and that no weapons would be needed. The hero of the tale rounded up their most trusted compatriots and embarked on this quest. However, one of the warriors was doubtful of this mission. Knowing that the land was filled with vicious beasts and the ways to these cities were rife with danger, they decided to hide a single weapon upon their person: a macuahuitl. This offense made the gods angry, and as punishment, they caused the band of warriors to get hopelessly lost in a seemingly endless desert. For days, the hero and their compatriots struggled to find their way, but the scorching desert offered no direction. Having run out of water, it seemed only a matter of time before they succumbed to the deadly heat. While their fellow warriors gave in to frustration and defeat, the fabled hero tried to cobble together some solution to help this hopeless situation. When they rooted through the gear of the team for helpful supplies, they found the offending weapon hidden within. They took the club and threw it into the desert, where it suddenly transformed into a monahuitl. The newly formed beast then pointed its snout in a single direction and scurried forth. The band of warriors followed the beast, and it led them to an oasis. When they drank their fill and restocked their supplies, the monahuitl then showed them the way out of this desert, so that their quest could continue. Though the hero and their team departed the scorching wasteland, the monahuitl remained in its desert home. Legends say that this creature still aids the lost, leading them to water and shelter. Such help, however, only comes to those without malice. Those who are wicked at heart will find no help from the monahuitl, and attempts to approach the beast will cause it to attack. If you are sliced by its bill, then you are marked for death by the gods and doomed to perish in the desert.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------------

Looks like our platypus friends have more than just a venomous spur!