Mantaere (Mant-air)
Soaring through the twilight skies...
Through the skies of the Twilight Plains of the Rift Lands, flies a magnificent creature of a peculiar nature. The Mantaere. A reptile of significant size that cuts through the high winds of the Plains with great ease. A predator to some and a marvellous sight to others.
Anatomy
With a wingspan of up to 4 metres, the Mantaere grow to a relatively large size...though it is not the biggest creature found within its motherlands. With feathers of orange and purple and pink and blue running the length of their spine to the tip of their tail, the Mantaere is a creature of beauty with it being a common muse amongst artists. Their wings can carry them through the air via flapping similarly to a bird though due to their remarkably light weight, they have been spotted riding the winds of the Rift Plains fairly easily.
Though wings alone are not enough to lift these creatures off of the ground. From their lower belly emerge two small feet which they can hide seamlessly when flying because of the pockets that they withdraw them into. They use their miniature legs to push their bodies into the air (or jump off of high cliffs depending on the ecosystem) and allow the winds to do the rest. However, without high winds, this can become more difficult and may require more than one attempt.
Furthermore, along their underside are an array of bioluminescent sacks. They can be spotted using these in a variety of ways: while hunting, during mating rituals, to communicate with each other or even to scare off predators. Scholars have been led to believe that this unique feature found on a variety of different species native to the Riftlands, is possible because of the aptly named 'Rift Grass' that both the Mantaere and animals like it feed off of.
Yes well, they also say there are flat-shaped reptiles that glow so brightly and soar the skies of the plains north of Tyraq. Do you believe those tales also, sister?While these animals may seem peaceful, and they typically are, at the end of their feathered tails hides a concealed barb. A row of daggers able to pierce through the hide of even an Urs'aq (if the unlikely occasion arose that these two creatures were to cross paths). Due to the size of their prey and the typical hunting methods they use, the likelihood of this barb being used to hunt is slim, so scholars suggest its primary purpose is for defensive means.
Subspecies
With the Mantaere being so well adapted to its ecosystem of suspected origin, the Twilight Plains, it has gone on to colonise a variety of different, but similar, ecosystems. One such example of this is the Cynish Mantaere which are primarily found along the Cynish Rises and more commonly within the Cynfel Moors. Here, a population of Mantaere have adapted to their unusual habitat. Due to the Cynfel Moors lacking the same Rift Grass as the Twilight Plains, the Mantaere here have adapted to a new diet, living off of regular grass instead of the glowing variety. It is because of this, that they seem to have lost their bioluminescent sacks entirely. Furthermore, due to the colder climate of the Cynfel Moors, a greater quantity of feathers covers their bodies for warmth.Those that live in Cynfel are a strange and unruly people- and the creatures there are even stranger. The feathered Mantaere for example...
Colours
Also, present in the Cynish Mantaere, are unique colours. While the Twilight variety often sports oranges, purples and pinks in their feathers with orange or grey scales, those found here, are duller in colour. They can often be found with scales of dark grey and black sporting feathers of moss green as well as grey and black, depending on which region exactly they may be located.Lifespan
40 yearsSubspecies
Conservation Status
While not currently receiving a noticeable decline in numbers, the Mantaere are currently under threat of being hunted due to an increase in human activity in their habitats.Average Wingspan
An adult female can reach 4 metres in wingspan.Body Colourings and Markings
Though the colours found on these creatures often depend on their environment, the most common they are found in are dark grey, slate blue and russet. Along their pale bellies can be found an array of bioluminescent sacks whose colours are not so tightly restricted.Geographic Distribution
Twilight PlainsCynfel Moors
Related Materials
Mantaere BarbGlow Gel
Behaviour
Though at first glance it may not seem it, Mantaere are a highly intelligent species. Scholars have suggested that a great number of emotions felt by Humans can also be felt by Mantaere and possibly more. With this, comes a highly sociable nature. It is most common for them to remain in flocks of 4-5 adults (though much larger ones have been sighted) and even more babies during certain times of the year. Once the pups reach adulthood, they often leave to find a mate. It is thought that adult flocks are created via friendships instead of procreation.Hunting
With an omnivorous diet, the Mantaere must hunt to keep itself in the best condition possible for survival. To do this, they hunt together as a flock. In the Twilight Plains, the bioluminescent sacks on their bellies are used to confuse Faerwin flocks until they can pick one off. It is said that it is a rare and beautiful sight to witness such events as Mantaere weaving in and out of enormous flocks of Faerwin. Though in the Cynish Rises, it is a different story. Here, Mantaere must use the element of surprise to hunt down their prey requiring faster speeds. Perhaps that is why they have evolved much smaller in size with a more aerodynamic shape.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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Yes very good!