Broxa

A sketched illustration of a Therotegimen euphratensis and a Therotegimen vampirus.

## Scientific Classification

### Species:

Therotegimen euphratensis (Type species)Therotegimen vampirus

## Conservation

### Range:

Mediterranean region, Portugal, Southern France, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and the Euphrates delta.

A map of the range for Therotegimen euphratensis & Therotegimen vampirus.

The **Broxa** is originally a creature from Jewish folklore, described as a type of bird like creature, said to suck the milk of goats, and sometimes the blood of humans during the night. In medieval Portugal, the myth evolved, and descriptions of the creature narrowed down to a nocturnal, demonic, shape shifting entiny often osociated with Vampirism. The later Portugese myths describe the Broxa as more like Demons than birds, but common belief is that both myths are derived from each other.

## Physical Description

The Broxa depicted in E.O.T.B are contrastingly different from either depiction of this cryptid in mythology, they are neither bird nor demon, but a species of microfaunal Dragon! Designers felt this would work as a suitable compromise for both depictions of the myth. They are depicted in the show as small, scaly bird-like reptiles with adaptations for a symbiotic parasite feeding/vampiric lifestyle. Both species of this genus share short downward curved beaks with needle teeth, and a small crest atop of the snout and a set of membrane wings that reach 30cm from tip to tip. The Portuguese variant of this genus sports a black and white striped coat with a green beak and a blue nasal crest whereas the Euphrates species of this genus has a grey and white striped coat, with a yellow beak and a red-orange crest.

## Ecology

#### Feeding Habits

In the wild, the Broxa can feed on a variety of different prey items, and its ecological niche could be compared to that of an Oxpeckers. Because of this comparison they mostly feed off of the parasites infecting larger animals such as the Behemoths from the Euphrates marshland, or remain completely insectivorous, but in some cases they can resort to natural vampirism. By some cases, the Broxa are referred to as parasites, as sometimes they can cause more harm than good to their hosts.

##### Insects and Parasites

Euphrates variant Broxa are famous for their symbiotic relationship with the larger habitant of the Euphrates marshland, they will feed constantly on the ticks, flies, and fleas that swarm the bodies of the Behemoths on the banks of the swamp lands.

##### Vertebrates

Broxa have also been known to not only catch insects, but smaller vertebrates as well, these including amphibians, lizards, mammals, and even certain snake species (When in colaboration).

##### Blood

In situations of crisis, the Broxa can resort to natural vampirism without the need for infection, they simply make a small incision on the back of a host animal such as a sheep or cow and lap up the blood with their reptilian tongues. When infected with a strain of the Vampirism disease however, Broxa will only choose to feed by this method.

#### Vampirism

When the Portuguese variant of this genus is Vampirised, the coloration of the Broxa begins to dull, to a lighter grey and white, and the nasal crest flushes to a bright red with the beak darkening to a sickly black-green. The needle teeth inside of the Broxa's mouth begin to extend slightly by a few millimeters and they begin losing weight rapidly, giving off a sickly appearance.

Broxa infected with Vampirism will only choose to feed via the blood incision method, and worse still, when they feed, they can easily spread the disease to their host, causing them to become Vampirised. A Broxa infected with vampirism has the highest possible chance of spreading the disease, as the incisions they make are non leathal, and their saliva is already alien to a mammalian immune system, causing rashes.