Anoxila

**Anoxila** is a Snake Wyvern first introduced in *Monster Hunter Zodiac*.

## Physiology

Anoxila is a large Snake Wyvern with a mostly azure-colored body. On the back of its head is a pair of horns. Each horn is slender, laterally flattened, and blade-like, with a forward-pointing tine. At the tip of its snout are a pair of barbels. It has a dark red underbelly, a green-colored backside, and yellow stripes on either side of its body. A row of small spines spans the length of its back. The tip of the tail is lined with two rows of fie spines, not unlike the thagomizers seen in stegosaurs. All four of its feet have four-clawed digits. Its body is often covered in a layer of pollen and spores.

## Abilities

Anoxila’s body is covered in pollen and spores which it can shake off to poison hunters. It is also capable of spraying a sticky, somewhat acidic sap-like substance that can impair a hunter’s armor, reducing their defense.

## Ecology

### Taxonomy

* Order: Snake Wyvern
* Suborder: Snake Wyvern
* Superfamily: Blue Snake Wyvern
* Family: Anox

### Habitat Range

Anoxila has been found inhabiting the Rolling Hills and the Silken Jungle.

### Ecological Niche

Anoxila is an omnivore, feeding on flowers, shrubs, fruit, seeds, nuts, fish, insects, and other small creatures. Anoxila is considered one of the apex predators of the Rolling Hills, the other being Prosacoras. In the Silken Jungle it competes with Dysinoden.

### Biological Adaptations

Anoxila is a sexually dimorphic species; males have longer horns compared to females. Its scales are specialized to have pollen and spores stick to them, akin to a bumblebee. As Anoxila spends most of its time in and around plant life, it often has a thick layer of pollen and spores covering its body. This can cause its body to appear green instead of the usual blue. Anoxila produces a unique substance that is sticky like sap but is also somewhat acidic. It spits this sticky acid from its mouth at prey when hunting, making it easier for it to eat. Its teeth are coated in a special material that prevents them being corroded by the acid. Its horns serve the purpose of attracting the opposite gender rather than being used in combat. They never stop growing throughout its life, but near constant burrowing prevents them from growing too large.

### Behavior

Anoxila is a curious and docile creature, and is rarely ever aggressive or territorial. However, it responds to potential threats with aggression and will relentlessly attack anything that provokes it. It spends a majority of its time wallowing in flowers and other plants, attaching pollen and spores to its body. It will often eat some of these plants.

## Etymology

Anoxila is a combination of Ανατολή *Anatoli* (Greek for east) and άνοιξη *ánoixi* (Greek for spring).

Seiryuzen is derived from 青竜 *Seiryū* (the Japanese name for the Azure Dragon).

## Attacks

* **Bite**: Anoxila rears back and quickly stretches its neck out to bite the hunter.
* **Body Sweep**: Anoxila places the front half of its body against the ground and quickly sweeps it from one side to the other, covering a wide area in front of it.
* **Rising Headbutt**: Anoxila lowers its head and then swings it outwards and upwards in an uppercut-like motion.
* **Tail Flick**: Anoxila will flick you with its tail. Sometimes it will also scatter pollen, which will poison the hunter if they come into contact with it.
* **Tail Whip**: Anoxila brings its tail back and then swings it from left to right, covering a wide area in front of it.
* **Tail Slam**: Anoxila raises its tail into the air and then slams it on the ground. This attack causes tremors around where its tail makes contact with the ground.
* **Slithering Rush**: Anoxila will slither very quickly towards you. Because of its coils, it can be hard to tell what it is doing, but as soon as you figure out its striking direction, run away. After the attack, Anoxila will resume its usual coiled position.
* **Burrowing Attack**: Anoxila can burrow through the ground and will sometimes hide under the ground for extended periods of time, then ambush the hunter from below.
* **Body Shake**: Anoxila stands in place and vigorously shakes its body, shaking off a large amount of pollen and spores. This causes a cloud to form around it. Deals residual damage and inflicts Poison.
* **Sap Spray**: Anoxila sprays a sticky, acidic, sap-like substance from its mouth at the hunter. Deals a moderate amount of damage and inflicts Defense Down.
* **Sap Spitball**: Anoxila spits a ball of sticky, acidic, sap-like substance at the hunter. Deals a moderate amount of damage and inflicts Defense Down.

## Introduction Scene

The hunter has been tasked to hunt an Anoxila. A Snake Wyvern that inhabits the Rolling Hills, it covers itself in pollen and spores to protect itself from harm. After arriving at the locale, the hunter takes a moment to admire the scenery. The area consisted of a vast, hilly field split in two by a river. There were very few trees, and large patches of flowers. However, something caught the hunter's eye. They could just barely see a large silhouette situated in one of the flower patches. Upon arriving at the flower patch, there was nothing to be seen. Maybe they just saw the flowers being rustled by the wind. The hunter turned to walk away but stopped as the ground began to rumble. Suddenly, a large figured erupted from the ground, sending dirt and plants flying into the air. It was the Anoxila emerging from the ground it was just burrowing in. It pulled the rest of its serpentine body out of the earth and assumed a coiled position as it stared down the hunter, and then roared. The hunt begins.

## Notes

* Anoxila’s head, legs, back, and tail can be broken. Its tail can be severed after being broken.
* When enraged, Anoxila huff’s white smoke from its mouth.
* When fatigued, it will drool and be unable to perform certain attacks.
* It will eat herbs from a gathering spot to regain stamina.
* Anoxila’s roar requires HG Earplugs to block.
* Anoxila is based on the Azure Dragon, one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is associated with the East, the spring season, and the element of Wood. Its design was inspired by traditional Chinese dragons.