Tiderider
Tideriders are a family of bats adapted for long distance flight over open seas, filling a niche similar to albatross. This has given them several aquatic adaptations, like waterproof wing membranes and the ability to soar for days at a time. They come in two varieties: Scavenger and Islandhopper.
Scavenger Tideriders are the vultures of the sea: using their exceptional sense of smell to find dead animals floating in the sea to feed on. If the creature is big enough, they will land on the corpse as they eat, but if it is small they will simply swoop down and fly away with it. They will also catch fresh prey if the opportunity presents itself, though they are optimized for carrion feeding.
Islandhopper Tideriders congregate on tropical islands, feeding on the fruits abundant there. They form large swarms called X which descend on islands with plenty of food, where they will feast. Once the food runs out or the island turns hostile, the X will take to the skies once more, in search of new food. Islandhoppers migrations can be big events to those whose islands they visit. While some view their coming as an ill omen as all their fruit will soon be devoured, other view it an an opportunity as hundreds of tasty bats will be all over the place ripe for the catching.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Tideriders look like bats, with adaptations for a life flying over the sea. Their wings are bigger, their fur is waterproof, and they have specialized salt glands on their feet where they excrete excess salt before it falls off.
Ecology and Habitats
Tideriders live on the open sea, flying for long stretches to find food. Islandhoppers are smart enough to remember previous islands they have visited and the growth cycle of the fruits they eat. They often return to the same circuit of islands, with enough stops that by the time they return to the first island is it lush with fruit once again. Scavengers on the other hand must continuously find new corpses. Thankfully, they are adapted to going without food for long stretches, and are drawn toward large corpses. When something big either washes up on shore or floats on the surface, dozens of Scavenger Tideriders will flock to it and begin a feast.
Additional Information
Domestication
Tideriders are popular companions for sailors, with many captains taking tideriders as pets and mascots for their ship. They are also common messengers for ships, being smart enough to be trained to return somewhere like homing pigeons. This makes them useful in case of a sinking ship: just tie a message to them and give a special command to return to a trained port. These associations with messengers and sailing have led to the Tiderider Shipping Company choosing a cartoon Tiderider with a mail satchel as their mascot.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Unlike bats, Tideriders do not have echolocation. Tideriders being diurnal creatures who thrive in the empty skies of the sea means that there isn't much to echo off of. They do however possess exceptional sight, hearing and smell.
Comments