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Description
Among the mossy trees and the flooded roots, a gluttonous beast hunts. For those who wade through the cypress swamps, there is one species that keeps them wary and alert. If you find yourself anywhere near these lands, you will hear words of warning about the Wompogos. Some may find no surprise in a large cat being a notorious predator within an ecosystem, but they may not expect one doing so in a manner like this. They are indeed mammals and indeed feline in nature, but many compare these creatures to that of a frog. They do not carry the sleek and elegant frame of other cats, rather they are squat and bulky things. Their posture fits more with a toad, with enlarged hind limbs, a bloating belly and an unsettling large mouth. Many find them ugly creatures to behold, but they have traded beauty for practicality, and are doing quite well with this setup! In a swampy, flooded land such as this, you need certain adaptations to survive! You can see this in many parts of their body like, for example, their limbs! These long awkward-looking appendages are certainly not good for sprinting and chasing prey, but they excel quite well at climbing trees and wading through the swamp. Their paws are webbed, which helps them walk atop the muck and swim through deeper water. They also have retractable claws, which are perfect for climbing the towering trees. Their hind legs are much larger and stronger then their forelimbs, as they use these for pouncing and for pushing themselves up as they climb. They also possess a long thin tail, which looks quite odd coming from such a squat body. This helps them with balance as they traverse the mighty branches above, and it also serves a powerful whip when faced with foes!

While these adaptations are interesting, I am sure people are far more interested in their creepy grin and swollen stomachs. Those are not exactly common things in the feline family. Their faces are indeed a bizarre sight, as their skulls are quite flattened and their mouth is much wider than people are comfortable with. This is for two reasons, the first being that the Wompogo likes to hunt within the swampy waters. This flattened dome shape of a head has its eyes and ears moved a bit further up on the skull, which allows them to peek above the water line as they hide in the marsh. Much like toads and frogs, they like to hide in the shallows, waiting for prey to come close. Long thick whiskers help them detect movement in the water, which helps them locate prey and pick a proper ambush spot. If one gets too close to the hiding Wompogo, it will launch forward with mouth agape and claws at the ready. It is at this point where we reach reason number two for their strange faces, and it is because they don't believe in chewing. With their wide mouths and flexible jaws, they can unhinge these gaping maws and swallow prey whole. Smaller animals are instantly sucked in, while larger beasts will have to be slowly pulled in bit by bit. Dozens of small hooked "teeth" line their jaws, which help grip their victims and keep them from escaping. I say "teeth" because a majority of these spiky things are actually barbs of bone that grow directly from the jawbone. These help the true teeth, as they are rather small and spread out on this massive mouth. With such a gluttonous diet, the Wompogo possesses an expanding stomach that can fit in quite a meal! A full grown Wompogo can swallow an entire Sousuin, which is no easy feat!

When it comes to ambush, Wompogos do not just use the water as cover. Due to their powerful limbs and claws, they also hide up in the trees and branches, waiting for prey to pass underneath. Their green and brown fur serves as camouflage, allowing them to blend in with the algae-filled water and moss-covered branches. Any attack, either from above or below, will have the Wompogo using its hooked claws to immobilize prey for easy swallowing. Those these are nasty weapons, they are rarely used to kill. Rather, they are meant more to wound and weaken prey, so that the Wompogo can devour them with their huge mouth. It seems that these cats prefer their prey live, as they never take the time to fully dispatch their victims before eating. No one is sure of the reason, but some think it may be out of sheer enjoyment. Regardless, Wompogos like to swallow their victims and then travel to their special resting spot for a nice long nap. Depending on the size of their meal, some may retreat to the treetops to sleep, while those with larger gut loads must snooze in tall grass instead. These huge meals can last a Wompogo for days, even weeks, as they just lazily clean themselves and lounge about.

When mating season occurs for Wompogos, the males will let out deep rumbling purrs from their maw while the females call out with a bellowing wail. While these noises are essential for locating viable partners, they are absolutely horrifying to listen to in the night. Some believe that the tales of screaming ghosts and strange presences in the swamp may be due to Wompogos in heat, and don't think they are wrong! Anyways, the males will track down the calling female and hurry to be the first to claim her. Plenty of fighting can occur, but eventually one victor will emerge. Once this is done, the male will leave and the female will be left to raise the litter months later. Wompogo kittens are birthed on dry land and will be reared there for their first few weeks. Before they are born, the mother will look to consume a massive meal, as she will no longer hunt as long as the kittens are vulnerable. Once they reach a certain age and strength, she shall take them into her mouth and carry them into the trees. They will remain in the branches above, safe from predators, while their mother hunts for food. She will go after smaller prey at this time, that way she can climb back up to her kittens. Up there, she will force bits of her digesting meal back into her mouth, and then will hang it open so her young can reach inside and eat. Think of it like birds feeding their young, except the babies climb inside mom's mouth to get the food.

Due to their hunger and size, Wompogos are quite territorial. They stake out their hunting grounds with markings of bile and urine, and they get quite agitated when competition starts moving in. Fights with their own kind are quite vicious and loud, but they rarely end in death. Usually one backs down and scampers away, while the other settles back in for a long night of hunting. Not only do they fight with their own, but they do seem to have a feud with Swamp Basilisks. Both of these hungry beasts love eating prey whole, and there isn't enough room in these bogs for both of them! Wompogos are quick to react when they smell a Swamp Basilisk, and they will rush to oust this intruder. Their sharp claws can easily shred the slimy skin of the basilisk, giving the Wompogo a physical advantage over their opponent. However, the drowse-inducing oral eye of the Swamp Basilisk can slow these cats down and give the basilisk time to sneak in a paralytic bite! In the end, the Wompogo will usually win, as they have their claws and cleverness. Swamp Basilisks may succeed, but it is only about a quarter of the time. That is why the cypress swamps belong to the Wompogos, while the other marshes remain the land of the basilisks.

It should be no surprise that the Wompogos are feared beasts by those who live near these swamps. These felines are great at ambush and are quite good at taking down prey. Even us dryads are not safe from these creatures! Like an inquisitive sapling, these beasts are willing to eat anything that interests them, even if said creature is made of plants and not meat. If you are breathing and standing anywhere near a Wompogo, it will try to swallow you. This makes these predators the number one threat to any who travel through the swamps. With them hiding in the waters and lurking in the trees, one must look both above and below! To help prevent attack, locals will wear thorny garbs or cover their boats with spiky bits. Another practice is to wear a mask on the back or top of your head. This makes the Wompogo think you are facing towards them, which will cause them to freeze. They will not move if they think their prey is staring at them, so this ruse can buy you time to get out of attack range. I highly recommend following this advice if you ever decide to enter these swamps. Wompogos are nasty and tricky creatures. Even if you think you checked every angle, there will probably be one lurking somewhere nearby. I myself partook in the mask trick, though I went a little overboard with it. I was nervous during my first expedition into the cypress swamp, so I decided to play it safe. Turns out my big noggin can fit quite a lot of masks on it, so I decided the more the merrier! I am sure the Wompogos that spotted me were baffled for days about the seven-faced creature that floated through their territory!

Since they are felines, some have wondered if Wompogos could be domesticated. We have tamed the house cat and other felines, so why not a Wompogo? Well the number one reason is that people find them quite ugly, which means many won't even try. Sure their kittens may be cute, but when they grow up it becomes a very different story. The other reason is because Wompogos think more with their stomach than their brains. Sure they can be swayed by bribes of food, warmth and shelter, but sooner or later that big kitty is going to wonder "can master fit in my mouth?" And like it or not, they are going to figure out the answer to that question.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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

This species was mentioned in a previous entry, and now they finally got their own! The world needed its own medieval crocodile!

I think these guys are kind of like a fusion of the Cheshire Cat and Great Jagras.

Description
Among the mossy trees and the flooded roots, a gluttonous beast hunts. For those who wade through the cypress swamps, there is one species that keeps them wary and alert. If you find yourself anywhere near these lands, you will hear words of warning about the Wompogos. Some may find no surprise in a large cat being a notorious predator within an ecosystem, but they may not expect one doing so in a manner like this. They are indeed mammals and indeed feline in nature, but many compare these creatures to that of a frog. They do not carry the sleek and elegant frame of other cats, rather they are squat and bulky things. Their posture fits more with a toad, with enlarged hind limbs, a bloating belly and an unsettling large mouth. Many find them ugly creatures to behold, but they have traded beauty for practicality, and are doing quite well with this setup! In a swampy, flooded land such as this, you need certain adaptations to survive! You can see this in many parts of their body like, for example, their limbs! These long awkward-looking appendages are certainly not good for sprinting and chasing prey, but they excel quite well at climbing trees and wading through the swamp. Their paws are webbed, which helps them walk atop the muck and swim through deeper water. They also have retractable claws, which are perfect for climbing the towering trees. Their hind legs are much larger and stronger then their forelimbs, as they use these for pouncing and for pushing themselves up as they climb. They also possess a long thin tail, which looks quite odd coming from such a squat body. This helps them with balance as they traverse the mighty branches above, and it also serves a powerful whip when faced with foes!

While these adaptations are interesting, I am sure people are far more interested in their creepy grin and swollen stomachs. Those are not exactly common things in the feline family. Their faces are indeed a bizarre sight, as their skulls are quite flattened and their mouth is much wider than people are comfortable with. This is for two reasons, the first being that the Wompogo likes to hunt within the swampy waters. This flattened dome shape of a head has its eyes and ears moved a bit further up on the skull, which allows them to peek above the water line as they hide in the marsh. Much like toads and frogs, they like to hide in the shallows, waiting for prey to come close. Long thick whiskers help them detect movement in the water, which helps them locate prey and pick a proper ambush spot. If one gets too close to the hiding Wompogo, it will launch forward with mouth agape and claws at the ready. It is at this point where we reach reason number two for their strange faces, and it is because they don't believe in chewing. With their wide mouths and flexible jaws, they can unhinge these gaping maws and swallow prey whole. Smaller animals are instantly sucked in, while larger beasts will have to be slowly pulled in bit by bit. Dozens of small hooked "teeth" line their jaws, which help grip their victims and keep them from escaping. I say "teeth" because a majority of these spiky things are actually barbs of bone that grow directly from the jawbone. These help the true teeth, as they are rather small and spread out on this massive mouth. With such a gluttonous diet, the Wompogo possesses an expanding stomach that can fit in quite a meal! A full grown Wompogo can swallow an entire Sousuin, which is no easy feat!

When it comes to ambush, Wompogos do not just use the water as cover. Due to their powerful limbs and claws, they also hide up in the trees and branches, waiting for prey to pass underneath. Their green and brown fur serves as camouflage, allowing them to blend in with the algae-filled water and moss-covered branches. Any attack, either from above or below, will have the Wompogo using its hooked claws to immobilize prey for easy swallowing. Those these are nasty weapons, they are rarely used to kill. Rather, they are meant more to wound and weaken prey, so that the Wompogo can devour them with their huge mouth. It seems that these cats prefer their prey live, as they never take the time to fully dispatch their victims before eating. No one is sure of the reason, but some think it may be out of sheer enjoyment. Regardless, Wompogos like to swallow their victims and then travel to their special resting spot for a nice long nap. Depending on the size of their meal, some may retreat to the treetops to sleep, while those with larger gut loads must snooze in tall grass instead. These huge meals can last a Wompogo for days, even weeks, as they just lazily clean themselves and lounge about.

When mating season occurs for Wompogos, the males will let out deep rumbling purrs from their maw while the females call out with a bellowing wail. While these noises are essential for locating viable partners, they are absolutely horrifying to listen to in the night. Some believe that the tales of screaming ghosts and strange presences in the swamp may be due to Wompogos in heat, and don't think they are wrong! Anyways, the males will track down the calling female and hurry to be the first to claim her. Plenty of fighting can occur, but eventually one victor will emerge. Once this is done, the male will leave and the female will be left to raise the litter months later. Wompogo kittens are birthed on dry land and will be reared there for their first few weeks. Before they are born, the mother will look to consume a massive meal, as she will no longer hunt as long as the kittens are vulnerable. Once they reach a certain age and strength, she shall take them into her mouth and carry them into the trees. They will remain in the branches above, safe from predators, while their mother hunts for food. She will go after smaller prey at this time, that way she can climb back up to her kittens. Up there, she will force bits of her digesting meal back into her mouth, and then will hang it open so her young can reach inside and eat. Think of it like birds feeding their young, except the babies climb inside mom's mouth to get the food.

Due to their hunger and size, Wompogos are quite territorial. They stake out their hunting grounds with markings of bile and urine, and they get quite agitated when competition starts moving in. Fights with their own kind are quite vicious and loud, but they rarely end in death. Usually one backs down and scampers away, while the other settles back in for a long night of hunting. Not only do they fight with their own, but they do seem to have a feud with Swamp Basilisks. Both of these hungry beasts love eating prey whole, and there isn't enough room in these bogs for both of them! Wompogos are quick to react when they smell a Swamp Basilisk, and they will rush to oust this intruder. Their sharp claws can easily shred the slimy skin of the basilisk, giving the Wompogo a physical advantage over their opponent. However, the drowse-inducing oral eye of the Swamp Basilisk can slow these cats down and give the basilisk time to sneak in a paralytic bite! In the end, the Wompogo will usually win, as they have their claws and cleverness. Swamp Basilisks may succeed, but it is only about a quarter of the time. That is why the cypress swamps belong to the Wompogos, while the other marshes remain the land of the basilisks.

It should be no surprise that the Wompogos are feared beasts by those who live near these swamps. These felines are great at ambush and are quite good at taking down prey. Even us dryads are not safe from these creatures! Like an inquisitive sapling, these beasts are willing to eat anything that interests them, even if said creature is made of plants and not meat. If you are breathing and standing anywhere near a Wompogo, it will try to swallow you. This makes these predators the number one threat to any who travel through the swamps. With them hiding in the waters and lurking in the trees, one must look both above and below! To help prevent attack, locals will wear thorny garbs or cover their boats with spiky bits. Another practice is to wear a mask on the back or top of your head. This makes the Wompogo think you are facing towards them, which will cause them to freeze. They will not move if they think their prey is staring at them, so this ruse can buy you time to get out of attack range. I highly recommend following this advice if you ever decide to enter these swamps. Wompogos are nasty and tricky creatures. Even if you think you checked every angle, there will probably be one lurking somewhere nearby. I myself partook in the mask trick, though I went a little overboard with it. I was nervous during my first expedition into the cypress swamp, so I decided to play it safe. Turns out my big noggin can fit quite a lot of masks on it, so I decided the more the merrier! I am sure the Wompogos that spotted me were baffled for days about the seven-faced creature that floated through their territory!

Since they are felines, some have wondered if Wompogos could be domesticated. We have tamed the house cat and other felines, so why not a Wompogo? Well the number one reason is that people find them quite ugly, which means many won't even try. Sure their kittens may be cute, but when they grow up it becomes a very different story. The other reason is because Wompogos think more with their stomach than their brains. Sure they can be swayed by bribes of food, warmth and shelter, but sooner or later that big kitty is going to wonder "can master fit in my mouth?" And like it or not, they are going to figure out the answer to that question.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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

This species was mentioned in a previous entry, and now they finally got their own! The world needed its own medieval crocodile!

I think these guys are kind of like a fusion of the Cheshire Cat and Great Jagras.