Snagas

Snagas (*Snah-gah-s*) are a non-sentient species inhabiting Ixotis.

## Biology

Snagas are carnivorous monotremes in the Lacattus genus. There is are two "variants" that are distinguished, however, they're not genetically distinct enough to be considered different subspecies.

## Appearance

Snagas loosely resemble a hairless cat. They're roughly the same size, have similar skull shapes and proportions and four legs and a tail. However, there are also some significant differences. Snagas also aren't related to felines at all.

Their faces have a more distinct stop than cats do. They also lack lips or a distinct nose, instead just having a darkened tinge to its skin in place for it. Their ears are rounder, shorter and thicker. Their skin is a dark shade of gray or pink.

The legs are bird-like and have long talons at the end of each toe. They have four toes in front and three in the back, plus a spur coming out of their heels. The skin on the lower legs of the creature is notably thicker and more bird-leg-like.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Snaga is the bone spikes that poke out of its mid-to-lower back and its tail, with enlarged bare bones and and which ends in a sharp blade-like spike.

Their teeth are generally reptile-like, with all of them bearing a resemblance to sharp fangs. The "real" fangs (front teeth) on their upper and lower jaws are significantly larger than the rest.

The variant inhabiting northern Hurus is generally larger and often have blue eyes, whereas the southern variant is a tad smaller and are more likely to have amber eyes. Both species have slit pupils that don't dilate to a round shape like cat. Their tongues are pointed.

## Behavior and diet

Snagas are generally group animals and live in matriarchal colonies of up to a hundred individuals in the desert. They communicate through noises that are high-pitched to the point that Men cannot hear them and body language. They also make rattling noises with their bone tails to establish dominance and ward off possible predators.

Snagas are sometimes kept as pets, however they're not domesticated and will still act extremely feral even if raised in captivity. When keeping one as a pet, it is recommended to have one female and two males males together to prevent them from feeling lonesome. It's also recommended to have one or both sexes neutered, as they reproduce quickly and are prone to incest when kept in small groups.

Some Men and Elves tried to use Snagas to keep pests off of their terrain, but Snagas raised in captivity often lack the hunting drive that their wild counterparts have. Therefore, captive individuals are often deprived of food in order to get them to keep hunting pest animals.

Snagas can mate when in heat (which happens at least five times a year) and will then soon grow eggs, which they drop after four weeks in a nest. They'll stay near the nest and keep it warm for the next two weeks, until the young will finally emerge. Snaga litters are small but often so numerous when not controlled that soon there's the possibility of overpopulation.

Snagas are strictly carnivorous and will even get sick if they consume anything other than meat. They have a particular taste for fresh prey, but they don't mind rotting flesh at all, either, as it doesn't seem to make them sick.

## Abilities

The strength of Snagas lies in numbers and strategy. They're quite agile and smart hunters and females in particular have a strong bond with one another. They're fast and good killers of small animals (sometimes bigger when hunting in larger numbers). They can also bite and use their claws and blade-like tail end to defend themselves. Some of them have Plague Elemental powers.

## Aging

Snagas have a notoriously long lifespan for a non-sentient mammal, with them growing up to 60 years old, with 55 being the average.