Irus ('ee-rooss')
These tiny creatures are not even really dragons, per say. This is something the great Doctor Ivan Sanderson touched on during his lifetime, but many people still called them dragons. Today, Mystizoologists really describe them more as 'pseudodragons'. Irus come from the frozen poles, around Arctica and Arcticus. They are small bright white snake-like creatures with tiny wings that seem to give them some measure of flight. Mostly however, they seem to save their strength and sleep. A lot. It is believed that they hibernate the majority of the year, and only really become active during the coldest months of the year. It is for this reason some in Arctica like to call them the 'Sleepy Dragons'. Some Mystizoologists believe that Irus is saving its strength mostly for Evo'ing.
Basic Information
Anatomy
They are a long snake-like creature, around 31 to 61 centimeters in length at the most, usually on the smaller side. Along their back, towards the head are webbed wing-like appendages that appear to act as wings, while its head is more lizard-like than snake.
Biological Traits
Flight They are capable of flying over small distances, around 1 or 2 kilometers at the absolute most.
Colour
Water-Frost
Genetics and Reproduction
As they seem to hibernate the majority of the year and are most active in the winter months, it would seem this is the period in which they mate as well. No one has yet been able to observe their mating or egg-laying rituals to date, as the winter months are also the most hazardous to be out there in Arctica. The best anyone can figure, they mate during the winter months and lay their eggs in the same time period, and then the eggs hatch in the next seasonal cycle.
Growth Rate & Stages
It would appear to take several years for Irus to grow to an adult size. They then Evo into Irushma later in their lives.
Ecology and Habitats
They are only native to the polar regions, around Arctica or Arcticus, and seem to prefer very cold and icy climates, such that would be inhospitable to us.
Dietary Needs and Habits
They feed mostly on small fish.
Biological Cycle
For reasons unbeknownst to anyone, Irus hibernate the majority of the year and only become active in the coldest months of the year, the winter months of Raanu and Maryve.
Behaviour
They are mostly timid creatures though they do not seem to mind the presence of people in the slightest.
Additional Information
Social Structure
They appear to live in vast family groups of several hundred or more. By contrast Ishma, another pseudodragon, seems quite rare as only three to six at the most are ever seen at one time.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Irus are so timid and so used to the presence of people that many like to keep them as pets. They are a very popular pet to have in the cold regions. However, they don't seem to care to much for warmer climates.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
They are most common in the polar regions of Arctica and Arcticus, and are hardly ever if ever seen outside of those regions. There have been one or two instances where one has been found as far south as the Quatrica Islands, and as best as anyone can figure, that happened because of strong ocean currents whisking them out to sea.
Average Intelligence
Among dragons, they are extremely intelligent. Many Mystizoologists wonder if they might be near sentient.
Discovery
From the notes of Doctor Ivan Sanderson.
"I have never encountered any Mystimon so difficult to find as this one. These 'pseudodragons' as I have taken to calling them, or at least these ones in particular, seem to only be active during the one or two months of the year that it is near impossible for me to make it out to Arctica! Just finding transportation that will make the trek in the months of Raanu or Maryve is like pulling teeth. But find someone I eventually did. Or rather my assistant and good friend, Jane Dawn, did. She had a friend who was, "crazy and stupid enough to make such a journey," as she said. And so we packed together all of our gear and headed out immediately. I come to find out her friend was a Vikarahn. Oh of course! Why hadn't I thought of that! I wouldn't describe Vikarahns as 'crazy' or 'stupid' when it comes to something such as this! More that they know what they're doing in such conditions. They're experts in such conditions! No one in Almahna was ever going to have any clue how to handle conditions as one would find in Arctica during the winter months. Jane, as always, is brilliant.
Anyway. As we made the journey north, it did not take long for us to find the Mystimon in question! Within moments of us crossing into the north pole waters, just as Arctica became visible over the horizon, the waters became teeming with dozens, maybe hundreds, of Irus! Fascinating creatures, simply fascinating. From my observations, it would appear they seem capable of regulating their own body heat in order to survive such conditions. Indeed they appear made for these frozen conditions. Simply fascinating."
7.6 cm
500 to 700 grams
31 to 61 cm at the most. Usually they are more on the smaller end of that.
Bright white, like the colour of snow.
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