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Description
Also called Viper Weasels, the Tatzelwurm is a unique creature found in much of the northern hemisphere of Arcadia, mainly in the Scattered Islands, Niria and parts of Feronia and Hortensia respectively. Despite their resemblance to mustelids, they aren't true mammals, but derived therocephalians. Like their ancestors, they retain the ability to lay eggs and produce venom from glands in their upper jaw.

As mesopredators, they have a generalist carnivore diet, feeding on rodents, multituberculates, ground birds, young dinosaurs, lizards and the occasional dinosaur egg. Although they are venomous, they use it rather sparingly, relying more on their powerful jaws when dispatching prey much smaller than it, but when going after prey the same size or larger they will make the most of their venom, which is a deadly neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and difficulty in breathing. Males, being larger than females, can take on prey as large as a sheep, which unfortunately makes them a menace to livestock, and can sometimes take to surplus killing if the opportunity presents itself.

Being on a lower trophic level, Tatzelwurms are prey to many larger predators, from big cats, canids, hyenas, dromaeosaurs, abelisaurs and terror birds. However, their venom can also be used as a defensive weapon, spraying, from grooves on their fangs like a spitting cobra. The venom causes intense pain, especially when aimed at the attacker's face and eyes, which they can hit with alarming accuracy. Its because of this, Tatzelwurms rarely fall prey, unless ambushed. When cornered, they would emit a hiss to warn attackers before spraying their venom, even dinosaurs wouldn't wanna get sprayed.

Although they cannot lactate like their true mammal relatives, Tatzelwurms do practice parental care. Females lay up to six or eight eggs, which are cared for by both the mother and father. The both parents take turns between hunting and the incubation of the eggs. When the eggs hatch, the kits will stay with their parents for two months before they eventually disperse.

Being both endothermic and venomous is a very nutritionally demanding lifestyle, but in the Realm of Abundance and the Tatzelwurm's high success rate in hunts, they are usually able to acquire their daily calories.

Tatzelwurm venom has been used by rogues and assassins as a coating in their weapons. This practice is largely outlawed in more civilized regions, due to the gruesome effects of the venom. Some would even keep Tatzelwurms as exotic pets and familiars, despite the risk of getting sprayed by their venom, and are even used as attack animals by some crime lords.

patreon.com/AstraPlatina

Description
Also called Viper Weasels, the Tatzelwurm is a unique creature found in much of the northern hemisphere of Arcadia, mainly in the Scattered Islands, Niria and parts of Feronia and Hortensia respectively. Despite their resemblance to mustelids, they aren't true mammals, but derived therocephalians. Like their ancestors, they retain the ability to lay eggs and produce venom from glands in their upper jaw.

As mesopredators, they have a generalist carnivore diet, feeding on rodents, multituberculates, ground birds, young dinosaurs, lizards and the occasional dinosaur egg. Although they are venomous, they use it rather sparingly, relying more on their powerful jaws when dispatching prey much smaller than it, but when going after prey the same size or larger they will make the most of their venom, which is a deadly neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and difficulty in breathing. Males, being larger than females, can take on prey as large as a sheep, which unfortunately makes them a menace to livestock, and can sometimes take to surplus killing if the opportunity presents itself.

Being on a lower trophic level, Tatzelwurms are prey to many larger predators, from big cats, canids, hyenas, dromaeosaurs, abelisaurs and terror birds. However, their venom can also be used as a defensive weapon, spraying, from grooves on their fangs like a spitting cobra. The venom causes intense pain, especially when aimed at the attacker's face and eyes, which they can hit with alarming accuracy. Its because of this, Tatzelwurms rarely fall prey, unless ambushed. When cornered, they would emit a hiss to warn attackers before spraying their venom, even dinosaurs wouldn't wanna get sprayed.

Although they cannot lactate like their true mammal relatives, Tatzelwurms do practice parental care. Females lay up to six or eight eggs, which are cared for by both the mother and father. The both parents take turns between hunting and the incubation of the eggs. When the eggs hatch, the kits will stay with their parents for two months before they eventually disperse.

Being both endothermic and venomous is a very nutritionally demanding lifestyle, but in the Realm of Abundance and the Tatzelwurm's high success rate in hunts, they are usually able to acquire their daily calories.

Tatzelwurm venom has been used by rogues and assassins as a coating in their weapons. This practice is largely outlawed in more civilized regions, due to the gruesome effects of the venom. Some would even keep Tatzelwurms as exotic pets and familiars, despite the risk of getting sprayed by their venom, and are even used as attack animals by some crime lords.

patreon.com/AstraPlatina