Burrow Lizard

## Overveiw

The Burrow lizard is a Carnivorous, 6 limbed, terran/subterran lifeform that lives on the tropical plains of 545c, or Xsilian. It is the most prominant and successful Burrow Lizard, mostley due to its size, and can be found anywhere in the warmer regions of 545c.

## Anatomy

### Size

The Burrow Lizard can vary in size by a lot.male are typically anywhere between 12 and 14 feet in length and between 3 and 6 feet tall, not including the front spikes or the crest. Males have very large crests, measuring in at up to 3 feet tall. Females are generally smaller and more slimly built, 8-10 feet long and 2-3 feet tall.

### Front Arms

The Burrow Lizard's front arms are webbed and have huge claws meant for breaking up rocks. The webbing catches the dirt and rock to be thrown back. It uses this to burrow underground to Protect itself from danger, make a nest for its young, and gather water/food for survival. These claws can also be used in combat for protecting or hunting.

### Mouth

The Burrow Lizard's strong jaw can exert a bite force of almost 1500 psi. Its front “Teeth” are actually part of the skull. They use them to stab prey and hold them down until they bleed out. The Burrow Lizard also has many sharp teeth for slicing up meat or fruits and molars for breaking down bones and roots.

### Skin

The Burrow Lizard has very thick protective skin, it is usually up to 3-3.5 inches thick.

### Eyes

With its larger eye the Burrow Lizard can see light and colour. The Burrow Lizard has infrared vision with its smaller eyes so it can seek out the warmest/coolest places to rest. Burrow Lizards do not have eyelids but they do have a very thick brille that can protect the eye with ease.

### Crest

The Burrow Lizard has a crest that measures up to 4 feet in length. The crest is used for sexual display when trying to attract a mate. A Borrow Lizard has great control over the blood flow in the crest and can use that to change the colour and temperature of its crest during a display. It also uses it as a show of dominance for other Male Burrow Lizards and to scare off potentially dangerous opponents.

## Ecology

### Reproduction and Mating

A Burrow Lizard reaches sexual maturity after 4 years of life. To find a mate a Burrow Lizard will go to large mating grounds where hundreds of Burrow Lizards gather each year during warm seasons. Using the crest on its head male Burrow Lizards attract mates by fluctuating the heat and colour in its crest. They will also produce distinctive clicks and grunts as mating calls. Males will compete with each other over females and the females will choose the male with the biggest and most colourful crest. Once a Burrow Lizard finds a mate it will stay with that mate until their death and keep having children until they die. Female Burrow Lizards will typically lay between 20 and 30 eggs in their lifetime, 5-10 eggs per pregnancy. Young Burrow Lizards are raised in a cave until they reach maturity, they are then left to live on their own. If a male does not find a mate they will wander the plains and survive until the next mating season.

### Diet

The Burrow Lizard is an opportunistic omnivore.It will eat any creature that it can kill. This diet consists mainly of large herbivorous animals and some other predators. A burrow lizard will also dig under large plants and forage their roots for nutrients. They also periodically forage for fruits and vegetables on the forest floor.

### Predators

The Burrow Lizard has no common predators in their ecosystem, but young males may be preyed on by larger males if they find each other in the wild.

### Habitat

The Burrow Lizard likes to live in wide open plains where they can dig long tunnels without being halted by large roots from trees.

### Behaviour

The burrow lizard is a fairly sedentary animal and it usually stays in its burrow for days on end.The male of the colony will go out to hunt or forage every few days.