Eyas Shaius

The eyas shaius is a peculiar reptile from southern Andaperna and also the Moiyeli Swamplands. 'Eyas' means grass- or leafy-green, while 'shaius' refers to reptiles that can blink, like lizards, crocodiles or slow worms. In this case it is a form of lizard. As most Andaperna languages have at least two words to describe green, one of which referring to vegetal green in particular, the word 'eyas' (other languages might use terms like 'kashart' or 'sar' or 'zérigón') hints at the lizards special property: The green colouration of its back and legs caused by symbiotic algae growing in its skin.

The average length of an eyas shaius is about half a foot, including the tail. They are slender, but covered in skin folds, which make them appear like they where wrapped in too much skin. They use these skin flaps as camouflage to blend in with their environment, humid areas covered in shrubs, with lots of lichen and moss vegetation.

The eyas shaius is a typical denizen of the Moiyeli Swamplands, where it finds a vegetation and climate befitting its needs and adaptation. In Andaperna it is only seen in the very west in some valleys at the foothills of the mountains, where moisture is kept more easily and bushes and moss can grow.

As the eyas shaius has formed a symbiotic relationship with algae, it would seem that it doesn't need to feed on other sources of energy. Nonetheless an eyas shaius devours heaps of mosquitoes, which makes them a welcome sight in Andaperna and also among the small Duiniken communities along the southern fringes of the Moiyeli Swamplands. Unlike other reptiles it has the ability to regulate its body temperature to a certain degree, which costs it more energy, than the usual lizard has to expend. This additional energy is provided by the algae, which excrete sugar directy into the eyas shaius. The algae in turn profit by finding an environment of constant temperature, moisture, minerals and sun exposure, as an eyas shaius is mostly found in the upper parts of trees or on the roofs of huts and houses.

The eyas shaius is active all day long. It is believed to be an animal that doesn't sleep much, as during the day it feeds its algae by sunbathing and during the night it hunts small flying insects. This restlessness has led to very nervous people being called eyas shaius. As people are fond of getting rid of mosquitoes, they try to attract these lizards by covering their houses with palm tree leafs or shingles made of weathered wood.