Swamp Lignum

The swamp lignums are semi-aquatic mammal that is one of the most dangerous species at the areas it live in due to its incredible stealth and bite force.

## Appearance

The swamp lignum is an extremely long, driftwood-like mammal. Their most defining features are light-furred heads, a massive mouth taking up 1/3rd of its body without the tail, which take up nearly half its body length. It has a white and greenish gray colors, giving the origin of their name, which means "Swamp Wood".

Above the sides of the mouth, the eyes are raised, and has multiple eyelids that can be shut off, which are usually raised above water. Next to the eyes are two large, closable nostrils that are also raised. Along the long snout, a large mouth can be seen. Within the mouth on each side, are large, sharp incisors. Next to it, two massive canines can hang out of the mouth. The remaining teeth are around half as large as the canines and do not hang out of the mouth like its canines. Nearly the end of the head, two tiny ears that can be opened or closed lie flat next to the skull.

On the side of the body, four underdeveloped legs can be tucked into the body, and can barely hoist itself aboveground. There are four clawed, webbed digits on the front legs, while five webbed digits are visible on its hind limbs. The bottom of the body has very short, white fur.

The tail is one of the most dexterous parts of the body. It is very strong and similar to an extended, tadpole-like tail suitable for swimming.

## Location

### Shattered Colors

Swamp Lignums are native to Leptur's lakes.

## Behavior

Swamp lignums are heavy ambush predators, who hide to get close to the target, then attack their prey with their mammoth mass. They are also scavengers who would ingest nearby carcass remains, and will also eat any meat they found. These mammals are somewhat cold-blooded during frigid or resting times, when they would lay unmoving, as to conserve energy during ages without needing to forage for food or to migrate.

These creatures have some of the most impressive bite forces on the continent, with a strength of just around 15 tons of force, enough to kill most creatures on the continent, and even heavily damage some legendary or ancient monsters. It is nearly impossible to stop a swamp lignum once it bites down.

The reproduction of the swamp lignum that is only occasionally sighted. They breed in the hottest, wettest season of the year, every other year. After mating with the male, the female goes through an incubation period of nearly a year or two, and will live birth 1-5 pups. The females will take care of the children until they were near-adults, then will release them to the wild. One of the most interesting behaviors of these creatures is that the children would lay on top of the parent like a transport.

The swamp lignums live in the swamps and lakes of Leptur, but they have also been seen in the sea.

### Hunting Behavior and Strategies

As of above, the swamp lignums are heavy ambush predators. They hide on the surface of the water, only their eyes and nose poking out of the top. Any animals that come close to drink, will need to take a bet of life and death. The swamp lignum will jump out of the lake at a surprisingly high speed. At a blink of an eye, literally, the prey will be caught in its cage-like jaw. If the prey is not dead yet, it will do a death roll, dizzying or disengaging the prey then pulling it into the water to drown. If the first strike does not capture, they will use their mass to attempt to dismember the prey.

## Relationship with People

The swamp lignum is one of the most dangerous species to adventurers, similar to some wyverns. Hundreds of people die from this species of mammal.

Lignums have appeared in many ancient stories and folk tales. Those contain lignum-headed gods of fertility and childbirth. They are also found as war mounts of gods and demons. However, they are also found as monsters, slain by heroes.

A saying of "Lignum", which is when a mother carries multiple children.