Hydras

Hydras are ophidian organisms with several heads with the ability to regenerate heads lost to decapitation.
They are not to be confused with the term Hydralism, which are organisms with the animal trait of regrowing one or more heads once one has been decapitated, but aren't ophidian in nature.
== Biology ==
While all hydras display the ability to regrow lost heads, many species of hydra display unique characteristics and behaviors. Some hydras require that all heads must be decapitated simultaneously to die.
=== Morphology ===
All Hydras have several heads, but their lower body differs, varying in the amount of limbs. Some are snakelike, others bipedal and even quadrupedal variants exist. Some hydra species have turtle shells.
=== Reproduction ===
Most hydras reproduce asexually, and thus are their main predator. Some hydras reproduce by the severed heads becoming new hydras. This is because they gestate newborn hydras inside the heads, which "hatch" when the neck is severed, if they do not hatch, the hydra will either expel the youth in an egg or it will claw its way out of the neck. These species of hydra most often eat their young.
=== Polycephaly ===
While head regrowth is universal to the species, regrowth speed varies, some are near instantaneous, others take years. Some hydra heads' regeneration can only be stopped by burning the stump.
The number of heads at birth differs from species to species of hydra. In most hydra species, the heads are independant, and will bicker and fight amongst each other, usually over food.
How hydras acquire heads varies immensely. In some species, the hydra undergoes metamorphosis along its lifetime, gaining a head each time. Some species gain heads by adding heads taken from different species of animates. Some species change heads when one is cut off and replaced by the head of a different animal head. Once the number of heads on a hydra becomes excessive, the excess heads will braid and through mitosis, a new hydra is created.
The multiple heads allow for constant vigilance, and they sleep in turns. Some hydra have no true heads, who only serve as sensory organs, while the brain is in the main body.
=== Breath weapons ===
Hydra breath weapons are very diverse; but the most common weapon is a poison breath but expelling a last hardening substance is also common.
Several species of Hydra have a different breath weapon for each head.
=== Physiology ===
Some hydras can swallow items and keep them intact in special sacks in their tails.
Some hydras are susceptible to alcohol intoxication.
Some have bony crests or horns for signaling.
Some have cobra hoods
Some hydras can be defeated by decapitating its heads until blood loss makes it pass out.
== Habitat ==
Hydras are mostly swamp dwellers and feed on fish. Some Hydras can be found on ocean coasts. 
== Hydras and the other races ==
Hydra poison is deadly, but prolonged exposure can cause inoculation to stronger poisons. Hydra breath and blood is toxic. The blood is used to poison arrows.
Some hydra heads are immortal, which are buried under rocks. Some seek to find these heads, with predictable consequences.
A hydra spell is a magical practice when its power is linked to a number of identical altars in its name, growing its power as the number of links grow.
Entire swamps are sometimes drained just to get rid of hydras.
One creation method is fusing dragon eggs together. 
Some entrepreneurs sell hydra heads as food.
== Taxonomy ==
Hydras are distantly related to tarrasques, as they possess breath weapons and are reptilian. 
== Behavior ==
The morphology of long necked heads is useful for fishing. Hydras enjoy fruit and honey when they can get some. Hydras often compete with dragons for territory.
Medusa protection behavior
A hydra will bite off heads that are affected by medusa's glance and heads will gouge out each other's eyes to avoid petrification.
Category:Herpetons
Category:Hydras
Category:Reptiles