NU:AMAM Codex inversus - Dreki

Order - Crocodilia

Suborder - Eusuchia

Infraorder - Perrault, Diremorph

Species - Neosuchus dirus mutans

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Shortsnout

Length - 21.5In (55cm)

Weight - 14kg (31Ib)

Neocrocodylus

Length - 3-4m (9-13ft)

Weight - 150-300kg (330-660Ib)

Dracodylus

Length - 3-3.3m (10-11ft)

Weight - 181kg (400Ib)

Logrdreki

Length - 5.5m (18ft)

Weight - 907kg (2,000Ib)

The order Crocodilia displayed very little alteration when it comes towards the regions of evolutionary biology whether it be in correlation to a stable niche or following a pattern of punctuated equilibrium, however as the planet fluctuates to its highest extremities so have the reptilian predators. Many members of Dreki families are byproducts of atavistic mutation rather than forced in which is mostly influenced by the summing factors caused by their environments or the volatile response towards an evolutionary arms race between predator & prey.

— Passage from the Codex inversus

HABITAT RANGE

Dreki have an extensive range throughout Neo Earth where the heaviest accumulation lies between & above the tropics of both the northern & southern hemisphere in which requires warm temperatures & humidity to survive, Dreki have the largest concentrations in breed population within the Neo Americas, the Sun Kingdom & Under. Predominantly Dreki have dominated the waters of Neo Earth & in some families had adapted a more terrestrial lifestyle. Most Dreki breeds, particularly of the Neocrocodylus & Logrdreki, are typically reptilian diremorphs of the tropics, found in lowland  habitats ranging from swamps, marshes & lakes to rivers, wetlands & turbid rivers. The exception had adapted so greatly into other mediums especially that’s high salinity taking their habitation into mangroves, coasts, the open ocean & even the polar seas, others had even become well suited to the most bizarre environments like sordid human aqueducts, mudflats & even desert sands. Some Dreki, particularly breeds from the Shortsnout & Dracodylus, are renowned to be strictly terrestrial in which they adapted to relinquish their aquatic habitats to pursue a life on land. Most habitats these breeds had taken over range from wooded forests, plateaus & steppes to deserts, outbacks & savannahs.

ECOLOGICAL NICHE

In exception to the Shortsnouts Dreki are predominantly carnivorous, or exceptionally omnivorous, in the terms of dietary intakes, depending on the formation of the snout as well as the shape of the teeth, breeds of the Neocrocodylus family are best suited to take down prey of their preferential selection. Breeds like the Fluvenator, the Sawbill & the Spearhead are strictly piscivorous in which their slender bills or needle/conical dentitions enable them to enact a better grip onto slippery prey like Piscis & Unagi, whereas some like the Shoveljaw & the Ironmaw are broad snouted & their teeth are pointed but are fashioned to act as blunt molars in which allows them to crush hard shelled Arthropods, crustaceans & molluscs. Direcrocodiles, Sewer crocs & Thalassaurs are incredibly strong & versatile in which their prey of choice enables them to tackle & overpower animals several times larger than they are, ranging from moderately sized prey like Fengxi, Quinkin & Dahu to the larger variety like Yales, Pantheons & even Bonnacons. This is also displayed by Dracodylus breeds where unlike their swimming counterparts that ambush & overpower these members rely heavily on outrunning prey through speed or resort to outnumbering larger animals in gangs, from taking down swift & small prey like Leprechauns to formidable contenders like Longmas. Now Shortsnouts have approached a more unconventional role by changing their overall dietary direction into a herbivorous role, feeding upon readily available plant resources like leaves, shoots, berries, lichen & fungi. However during certain periods of ecological stress or nutritionally starved hardships these minuscule Dreki would readily consume invertebrates, their larvae, eggs, hatchlings & carrion as a means to sustain nourishment or supplement from the risk of starvation. Logrdreki have taken the roles as fully aquatic predators in which they gorge themselves on whatever encounters their peripherals, however the Phalainasaurus in this exception is a marine filter feeder in which the Dreki consumes small fish as well as microscopic life like zooplankton.

Dreki are generally polygynous by nature in which individual males of the species mate with as many females as they can, however distinctions of monogamy does exist in some breeds particularly Shortsnout & Dracodylus members in which pairs have been recorded to coexist. Dominant males patrol & aggressively defend territories that contain a staple population of females, this characteristic change in behaviour drives them to chase off other animals as well as members of their own breed as they perceive as potential threats. Common amongst all male Dreki they attract females through elaborate courtship displays including low resonance bellows & nudging, aquatic or semi aquatic members take this another step further in which pairs synchronise their courtship through bellowing, snapping & intricate rhythmic swimming manoeuvres. Depending on the familial breed, female Dreki may construct either holes or mounds as nests, the latter made from vegetation, leaf litter, warm sand or soil. These nests are typically found near dens or caves, however those made by different females are sometimes close to each other particularly in hole nesting breeds like Shortsnouts. Dreki clutches contain approximately 10 to 50 eggs, these said eggs are protected by hard shells made of calcium carbonate. The incubation period of a Dreki is through a period of 2-3 months, the sex of the developing young is solely dependent upon temperature control in which anything above 32°C (90°F) produces more males whereas anything below 31°C (88°F) yields more females. Much like their Crocodilian ancestry Dreki exhibit an unusual characteristic of parental care after hatching where mothers will perform such labours from the excavation nests to free their young to carrying them in their mouths safeguarding them from predators. The time it takes young Dreki to reach independence varies amongst different breeds. Direcrocodiles, Fluvenators & Sandtrappers, groups of hatchlings associate with adults within the duration of 1-2 years whereas juvenile Sewer crocodiles & Drillbeaks become independent in a matter of months.

The relationship between Dreki & humans is moreover a complex background, this mostly involves conflict due to attacks and a growing threat to livelihoods, but also instances of coexistence & even isolated cases of trust. While larger Dreki can view humans as prey, some individuals may learn to interact with people, some some communities particularly marsh & wetland settlements have found ways to cohabitate alongside Dreki despite the potential risks. As opportunistic predators Dreki pose a great threat to humans when in their territory & are known to attack as a means of defending their nests or young, some of these attacks occur either unintentionally while the animal is attacking domesticated livestock & pets or deliberately for food. The Direcrocodile & the Sewer crocodile are implicated in 1,500 attacks on settlers between the 1st-10th decade since the resurgence, half of which in this rough estimate has confirmed to be fatal. However some breeds like the Shortsnouts have been captured as well trained to act nothing more as pets, due to their even temperate nature with a behavioural personality similar to that of a small dog they are amongst one of the most popular companions around humans as well as children. Dracodylus breeds have also been employed as mounts just as Paladins & Authoritarians use Wargs, however these Dreki are a favoured choice amongst the most notorious of Midgard Earth ranging from Bandits to Bounty hunters.

Much akin to their crocodilian ancestors Dreki have been hunted for their skin, meat & bones, settlements of the northernmost parts of Under & the Floridian Empire had taken to farming Dreki particularly that of the Neocrocodylus family specifically for these resources. The skin & leather has been used to fashion sturdy & everlasting straps & receptacles like sacks, pouches & luggage carriers, in addition can be tailored to fabricate exterior reinforcements for mantles, footwear & even armour. Dreki meat is an alternative white meat that is incredibly high in protein, low in fat & has a similar taste compared to Moa & Piscis with a firm yet succulent texture, the choice cuts of Dreki meat is mainly tenderloin, tail fillet & jowls in which is commonly char grilled, stewed, roasted, smoked & sautéed. Dreki bones have been used not only as artisanal smithing & tool craft but can be grounded & processed into biocalcium powder for the use of human food fortification, the teeth of certain breeds Dreki have also been used as blunderbuss ammunition & even sniper rounds.

BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS

The snout shape of Dreki greatly varies between familial breeds & are heavily influenced by environment as well as prey of choice. Neocrocodylus like Ironjaws & Shoveljaws possess generally wide, U-shaped snouts, this is also displayed in all members of the Brachycephadylus family. The remaining members of this family group however typically have a narrower & V-shaped formation, this is also displayed in all members of the Dracodylus family. The snouts of the Sawbill & the Spearhead are extremely elongated in which is in actuality a stiff anterior prolongation known as a rostrum, the jaws of a Phalainasaurus is more akin to that of baleen whales in which the lower jaw is in two separate halves only loosely hinged to the skull of the Dreki. The muscles that close the jaws are far larger & more powerful than the ones that open them, so much so that a human can easily hold shut the jaws of a Dreki, however prying the open the jaws is extremely difficult. Dreki possess some of the most strongest bite forces of Diremorph kingdom where the Direcrocodile, Shoveljaw & Suchodrakon hold the most powerful measuring 2,000-23,000psi making them powerful even by Neofauna standards, whereas some like the Sawbill, Spearhead  & the Warra wirrin possess the weakest measuring between 170-450. The Phalainasaurus however is the only Dreki that possesses none as these reptiles are filter feeders & lack teeth. Dreki teeth vary from dull & rounded to sharp & pointed, broad snouted breeds have teeth that vary in size while those of slender snouts are more consistent, Dreki are inherently homodonts by nature in which their teeth emerge the same in formation rather than different shapes. Dreki are also polyphonydonts in which they are able to replace each of their teeth up to 50 times in their 35-75 year lifespan, they also happen to be the only non mammalian species to possess tooth sockets in which it displays that replacement slows as the reptile ages.

The eyes, ears & nostrils of the Dreki are located at the top of the reptiles head, in aquatic families this placement enables them to stalk prey with the majority of their bodies remain beneath a particular medium. In bright light the pupils of a Dreki contract into narrow slits, whereas in darkness they become large circles, as is typical for animals that hunt at night. The eyes of Dreki possess a tapetum lucidum in which enhances the reptiles vision when traversing through darkness. Dreki possess nictitating membranes in which has diverse capabilities in both aquatic & terrestrial breeds, in aquatic Dreki this protects them from water as well as broadening the efficiency of their vision though for terrestrial Dreki these membranes are developed to become more like a fixed, transparent scale known as a brille in which shields the Dreki from attacks, lubrication of the eyes & adds extra security when the reptile is asleep. Dreki possesses a wide range of hearing with sensitivity comparable to avian & mammalian diremorphs, hearing in Dreki does not degrade as the reptiles ages as they can easily regrow & replace lost cells. The well developed trigeminal nerves allows them to detect vibrations made in water as well above the surface of the ground such as those made by potential prey, these Reptiles have a single olfactory chamber in which the vomeronasal organ disappears as the reptile ages into adulthood. Behavioural as well as olfactometer experiments indicate that Dreki detect both airborne & water soluble chemicals, this is heavily utilised towards their olfactory system whenever they are hunting.

The skin of Dreki is clad in non overlapping scales known as scutes in which are covered in beta keratin, many of the scutes are strengthened by bony plates known as oesteoderms. Depending on specific breeds the strength of these oesteoderms vary greatly, with Fluvenators & Thalassaurs these Dreki possess little to no scutes as a means to prevent drag to perform feats of speed & agility when manoeuvring through water & land akin to Leviathans whereas breeds like Magmadons contain a high concentration of mineral ore embedded into the scutes usually consumed, ingested & integrated in development to enable the Dreki to swim in shallow lava pools as means to deter & escape predators. Both the head & jaws lack scales In which are instead covered in tight, keratinised skin that fuses directly to the bones of the skull & which, over time, develop a pattern of cracks as the Dreki skull develops. Like crocodilians as well as many reptiles & some mammals the scutes of a Dreki contain blood vessels & function to absorb as well as release heat during thermoregulation, as endothermic organisms the main method for regulating its temperature is completely behavioural in which temperate adapted Dreki may start the day by basking in the sun then resume activity throughout the rest of the day.

Including terrestrial variants Osmoregulation is a necessary process that exists in all Dreki, these reptiles require a steady regulatory response to maintain a suitable concentration of salt in body fluids. Intake of water as well as salts occurs across the lining of the mouth, when water is drunk, incidentally while feeding & when present in foods. Water is lost during breathing whereas salts & water are lost in the urine & faeces, through the skin & in certain Dreki like Direcrocodiles & Sawbills are lost via salt exchanging glands on the tongue.

BREEDS

Despite withholding the name Dreki are segregated into five separate family groups; the Neocrocodylus, the Dracodylus, the Brachycephadylus & the Logrdreki. The Neocrocodylus Dreki are classified as the most adaptively & locally diversified breeds in which in many are found in continents & islands of the Neo Earth, they are renown to be notably semi aquatic in nature in both fresh & saltwater. Dracodylus are classified as fully terrestrial & carnivorous Dreki in which their build enables them to become absolute pursuers rather than opportunistic ambush hunters, these Dreki are prevalent in the Sun Kingdom, the Neo Americas, Under & the Ice Realms. Brachycephadylus or more commonly known as Shortsnouts are classified as the smallest members of the Dreki & are renowned herbivores, they are also considered uncharacteristically colonial in nature in which majority of these breeds are found with several individuals that are both familial &/or neighbouring members. Logrdreki are the last category of Dreki in which only two members exist; the Suchodrakon & the Phalainasaurus, these Dreki are renowned to be incredibly large as well becoming fully aquatic only to resurface to breathe & feed.

Neocrocodylus

(A) Direcrocodile

Direcrocodiles are the most commonly known breeds of all the Dreki in which the largest populations reside within Under, the Sun Kingdom & the Floridian kingdom, these Dreki are speculated to be descendants to large Holocene crocodilians particularly the African Nile, the Indian Mugger & the Australian Salty. Direcrocs are amongst the most successful apex predators of the ecological Diremorph food web in which they are capable of preying upon anything ranging from moderately sized animals like Fengxi to larger quarries like Pantheons, these Dreki have also been bold & even triumphant to tackle preadolescent Neofauna that would come into the waters edge to drink. Their intrepid choice had also landed them to become blacklisted as ACOs in which some cases had recorded them actively pursuing & killing humans, inevitably leading to immediate emergency response to terminate these maneaters. Despite their overall danger towards humans Direcrocs have also been farmed & at times hunted for its meat & eggs in which is famously charred or accompanied as an exotic side to Floridian breakfasts, in addition its skin as well as hide is the most commercially valuable of any Dreki materials. Direcrocodile teeth have also been collected & used by Bandits & Reavers of Under to fashion makeshift sniper ammunition, the teeth of the Dreki exhibit the same function in comparison to military rounds in which are designed to penetrate hardened targets like mild steel plates.

(B) Shoveljaw

Shoveljaws are a breed of Dreki the of Neocrocodylus family endemic to the Sun Kissed kingdom ranging from the Savannahs to the deserts of the Sahara, however some sighted populations have been discovered inhabiting the sand banks of the Atlantic crossing. Shoveljaws are a bizarre breed of Dreki not only on a physical basis but also behavioural as well as ecological. Shoveljaws are the only known Dreki breed that sports fur in which is found covered their heads, underside & their back running off towards their tail, their jaw morphology is also a strikingly prominent feature in which their lower jaw is outgrown with bony protrusions in which eventually shaped to resemble resemble a shovel in which they are named as such. The jaws of a Shoveljaw is the primary tool of the Dreki where it is fashioned to rummage, sift & excavate through earth & sand as a means to acquire their favoured prey that being hard shelled arthropods, molluscs & crustaceans, additionally the jaw muscles, skull & jaw formation enables the Dreki to exert a force of 3,000psi easily breaking through as well as crushing the exoskeletons of well armoured prey. Though they are aquatic Shoveljaws swim through an unlikely medium that being sand & soft earth, their lower jaws have become a secondary aid when traversing through in which acts as an initial entry before tunneling. With prey plentiful as well as preferential opportunities with resources the Atlantic crossing teems with Shoveljaws, an issue that exposes travellers on foot or sandships face with each continental crossing. With each crossing these travellers face territorial attacks in which these Dreki have been known to ram against these sandships, in addition continual attacks lead to the attraction of their natural predator that being the Seitaad further creating a perilous journey.

(C) Fluvenator

Fulvenators are Dreki endemic to the Sun blessed kingdom, the Verdant South, regions of the Neo Americas & countries that borders between the Neo Asia & Under particularly the remnants of Thailand & Indonesia, though they inhabit wetlands & marshes large accumulations favour fast flowing rivers & streams. Also known as River hunters these Dreki prefer the method of hunting in main channels of its local environment, as a predator that hunts prey that is preferably anadromous in behaviour. They are predominantly icthyophagus in which they are adapted to specialise in hunting fish ranging from all breeds of freshwater Piscis of the Koi family to the more formidable Spearfish particularly the Greater Suk-Kegh, however their favoured prey being the migratory Snark breed known as carnipristis. As anadromous marine fish these Snarks migrate to freshwater to breed where at its height the rivers teem with Carnipristis, an opportunity too great for Fluvenators to refuse mirroring the relationship between Grizzly Bears & Salmon. Though they are perfectly suited to hunt by the waters edge these Dreki are adept swimmers especially in the fast flowing state of rapids, their tails enable them to propel themselves through the water adopting an anguilliform motion. Despite their territorial aggressiveness towards humans the Mbenga settlement of the Congo basin have tamed & utilised Fluvenators as hunting aids for fish as well as farming them for their teeth, meat, eggs & hide, in the Desert city of ancient Cairo the Fluvenator has been seen as a divine animal by the sand settlers in which they offer food & tribute by anglers & boatmen as a means of safe travel through the Grand Nile.

(D) Ironmaw Caiman

Ironmaw Caiman are a Neo American & Verdant South breed of Dreki, they are normally found in areas of slow flowing wetlands & seasonally flooded savannahs in which are in the accompaniment of heavily wooded forests & thickly dense jungles. Ironmaws are sexually dimorphic which males being nearly double the length of females & sport a far thicker underbite, as hatchlings their colouration are all darker metallic grey where upon reaching adulthood males gain a rusty reddish brown that accent on the sides of the Dreki. Ironmaws have a diverse range in dietary needs in which hatchlings will catch & consume arthropods, crustaceans, molluscs, amphibians & Piscis fry, however within time & size they soon graduate to fairly larger prey such as Koi & Lobefin Piscis, reptiles, mammals as well as hard shelled crustaceans & molluscs which remain a staple dietary requirement for an Ironmaws development. Though present in a few breeds due to starvation or nutritionally stressed environments Ironmaws are the only Dreki breeds that actively cannibalise members of their own kin, records show that in its most commonality adults & preadolescent Ironmaws would readily catch & eat hatchlings or juveniles but in uncommon cases fights between adults would inevitably end in the loser getting killed & the spoils would take on the form of their opponent becoming the meal. Compared to most Dreki Ironjaws are the most active as a nocturnal predators both land & in water where their eyesight are well adapted for low light vision in addition  they conserve energy by hunting with an ambush strategy, by being active at night they can hide from prey more effectively.

(E) Sewer crocodile

Contrary to the urban myth it is now disproven that the American alligator exists in New Yorks sewers, species of Crocodiles however is a whole different story. Though normally native to the swamps, wetlands & Bayous of the Neo Americas the Sewer crocodile is a Dreki that had atavistically adapted to reside within the sordid & murky conditions of ancient cisterns, flooded tunnels & sewage treatment facilities in which their adaptations enable them to swim through the tepid sludge. Sewer crocodiles possess physiological trait features similar to that of Siluriformes or catfish, the barbels on its lower jaw enable the Dreki to taste as well locate prey in muddy waters whereas the colouration enables a form of camouflage that disguises the Dreki with the sludge. The immune system of the Sewer crocodile is noticeably powerful in which due to prolonged exposure to dirty & contaminated waters these Dreki bioaccumulate pollutants from the environment they live in, this labels them as one of the fewest Dreki considered inedible by Hunters. As opportunistic unfussy eaters these Dreki will consume anything they can find alive or practically rotting, this would immediately blacklist them as potential man eaters as they consume meat, bones, sinew & clothes. Their unfussy diet had also lead to the discovery of contents that aren’t entirely food either, junk that floats within the sewers are swallowed by the Dreki ranging from human made objects like tires, shoes & bottles to full fledged oddities like government drones, AVDs, Switchtools & even vehicular engines. This discovery has lead Reavers, Bandits & Hunters to actively hunt these Dreki specifically for their stomachs in which the contents within their guts can be salvaged for commodities if they are in intact condition, however their stomachs have also been gathered to be fashioned into elastic caches & sacks for holding.

(F) Polar Thalassaur

Polar Thalassaurs are the only known Dreki to exist within the Southern Ice Realms primarily inhabiting the Antarctic pack ice that is between 50°S-80°S making them one of the fewest pagophilic reptilians to exist, despite their absolute inhabitation of the Southern Ice realm sightings of vagrants have been seen off the coasts of Western Under, New Zealand, the Verdant South & the Sun blessed kingdom. Through appearance the Thalassaur heavily displays features similar to that of the extinct Nothosaurus however their behaviour is mainly adopted from Leopard seals, becoming adept swimmers as well as top predators of Diremorphs of Southern Ice realms ecological food web. As predators Thalassaurs feed on a wide variety of prey ranging between Kryll, Antarctic Grindylow & Polar sea Piscis however their most favoured prey is the Tawaki, an amphibian Diremorph species that replaces penguins in which the Dreki have been the only known predators that can overpower almost every breed. As Dreki cannot survive cold climates let alone the freezing Antarctic ice the tissues of the Polar Thalassaur are extremely high in urea as well as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), this functions as a natural anti-freeze preventing ice crystals from forming in their bodies. Polar Thalassaur meat is incredibly poisonous due to the high concentration of urea & TMAO present in their flesh, however a process was developed as a means to reduce the concentrations making the Dreki meat edible. Thalassaur Hákarl is a national dish by Thralls of Pellucidar & a renowned delicacy favoured by the Valhallan archipelago, the meat is cured through a fermentation process that takes a span of 6-12 weeks where it then is cut into strips & hung to dry for several months until the meat reaches a brownish gold encrusted development.

(G) Sawbill gharial

The Sawbill gharial is a Dreki that heralds within the South Asian regions of the Ancestral Bharat ranging between the Ganges Sacred to the Sunken Brahmaputra, since their atavistic mutation the populations of their ancestral progenitors have grown exponentially since the 1970s dictated their initial demise. With the frequency of deluges as well as heavy downpours caused through years of deforestation, erosions, sand mining as well as failed or incomplete dam constructions the populations of Gharials had steadily increased, the atavistic mutation rate enabled them to adopt a Sawshark physiology as well as a plethora of adaptations to reside in the murky conditions of these waters. The most prominent feature of the Sawbill is the barbed rostrum that makes up the upper snout of the Dreki, the needle sharp teeth that line the mouth had migrated along the rostrum primarily resembling that of the sawshark. Much like the feeding methods of the pristiophorid the Sawbill swings the rostrum from side to side as a means of crippling or stunning prey, this hunting manoeuvre is also utilised against potential predators from any medium of angle. Like crocodilians the rostrum of the Sawbill contains a series of porous sinuses in which contain pressure sensors in which assists the Dreki in locating prey, with the heavily silted & muddy conditions of the waters they hunt within Sawbills can nigh accurately perceive & pinpoint where their prey may be located without necessarily seeing it. Most prey Sawbills target are majorly Piscis of the Koi & Lobefin family in which the most common breed they had hunted is the King Carp & Swampcrawlers that lay beneath the mud of the riverbed, young Sawbills instead feast on Piscis fry as well as arthropods, crapaud tadpoles & lakebed crustaceans. Like Gharials Sawbills are particularly shy when encountering humans in which they would try to stray a fair distance away, however attacks do occur when threatened or cornered in which several cases lead to serious gashing injuries inflicted by the rostrum or the swing of its tail as a means of escape.

(H) Atlantic Spearhead

The Atlantic Spearhead are pelagic Dreki found within the Atlantic & Antillean Sea in which they cohabitate within the coasts of the Verdant south & the Sun blessed kingdom, the greatest accumulation of these Dreki lay within the outskirts of the Atlantic crossing where a a few vagrant members have been located within the Persian gulf. Spearheads are hunters who specialise in hunting in open waters in which their most favoured prey are migratory pelagic Piscis from Azurefins to Shiners, however as opportunistic hunters they have been known to target anything at sea from pelagic crustaceans, grindylow & Snark pups. Though normally solitary it is not uncommon that Spearheads will congregate to hunt in coordinated gangs to take on large schools as a means of causing confusion & disarray, like Sailfish Spearheads use their sword like rostrum to stun & injure Piscis where in addition their sails can be splayed open as a means to herd & corral prey into other Spearheads. In a multi species hunting scenario Spearhead attacks can reduce the cohesion of prey schools making them more vulnerable to Diremorph meso predators, thus providing a foraging benefit to species like Diregulls, Sea leopards & Diresharks. Coastal settlements of the Verdant South & the Sun blessed kingdom have trailed Atlantic Spearheads as a means to track down feeding balls in which Anglers have used net casters to haul in Piscis en masse, feeding events like these often occur annually in which are often meticulously planned in order to accumulate large hauls for a grand commodity.

Brachycephadylus

(I) Pugcroc

The most prominent member of the Shortsnout Dreki that being the Pugcroc, these Dreki are cosmopolitan in which they are found everywhere but the Ice Realms inhabiting wooded forests, plateaus, savannahs, marshlands & steppes. As most Shortsnouts Pugcrocs are herbivores feeding upon low hanging fruit, berries, leaves, flowers & flora saplings, studies had shown that the complex dentitions in its jaws show that its ground to the point where it resembles diamonds specifically designed to shred & crop plant material. Pugcrocs adopt a notosuchian physiology in which their scute shield is inflexible restricting lateral movement as well as their limbs present a semierect posture, showing that these Dreki are fully suited for fully terrestrial lifestyle. Pugcrocs are not only terrestrial by nature but they are also fossorial Dreki in which they are renowned burrowers, their underslung lower jaws shaped as shovels alongside their robust limbs & spade like claws are well suited to excavate earth & sand as a means to create a series of tunnels & underground infrastructures. Pugcrocs are often preyed by all manner of carnivorous Neofauna as well as the multitudes of predatory Diremorphs that share their environment, therefore these Dreki harness fortified adaptations to counteract these predators particularly armoured scutes, quickened burrowing retreats & even bluff attacks like hissing, chest buffing & reverse charges. Pugcrocs have famously been kept as pets amongst humans in which their evenly tempered nature around humans enables them to become domesticated, like the ancient canid breed these Dreki once trained & domesticated adopt a habitual ‘shadow’ personality often mimicking their owners lifestyle. It had been theorised that Pugcrocs underwent an evolutionary mutagenic phenomenon present in a fair few diremorphs as well as Neofauna known as ‘Simosinisation’, a theoretically suggested form of mutagenic convergent evolution in which vertebrates evolved a body plan similar to that of brachycephalic canines most particularly the Pug.

(J) Muckpuppy

Muckpuppies are Dreki commonly found in the Neo Americas particularly the Flooded city but have been discovered to originate from the Verdant South, these Dreki are prominent residents of swamps, marshlands, mires & mudflats in which water inundates the landscape. Within their environment the Muckpuppy live in familial groups of large numbers in which they converge with other Dreki of their own breed as a means to exchange genetic information or members to diversify their generations, other purposes also relay to feeding & security. Muckpuppies like most Brachycephadylus Dreki are herbivores but one for a specialty for mushrooms as well as lichen & certain moulds, a single Muckpuppy would spend the majority of their day foraging & consuming fungi of their preference. However through an uncommon trait these Dreki have been known to ‘farm’ these particular species of fungi, by burrowing & excavating dark & damp chambers that they familiarise to as well as collect & accumulate a collection of dead or decaying tree logs, almost 20 species of local fungi have been discovered within these underground dens. It’s due to this Muckpuppies have been captured, conditioned & used to track down rare mushrooms in which have been found to be in the highest commodity, ranging from the dynasty truffle which is used as an exotic ingredient for Neo American delicacies to the Fairy ring in which Magicians utilise for medical brews.

(K) Magmadon

Magmadons are Dreki found in the most inhospitable regions of Midgard earth ranging within the Yellowstone caldera to the infernal isles, these reptiles are resilient organisms residing within rocky plateaus, volcanic caverns & open lava fields. Magmadons are hearty creatures in an environment perilous to organisms that lack the adaptation needed for volcanic life, therefore these Dreki developed a unique developmental system that enables them to tolerate the harsh conditions. From the moment these Dreki hatch they are already independent in which their first instinct is to feed on ore, coal & a diverse range of volcanic minerals as a means of sequestration, through the development from hatchling to adulthood Magmadons intake minerals as a means to strengthen their armoured scutes. As adults the minerals acquired from their geophagus diet Magmadons gain an extreme tolerance to the intense heat as well as harmful volcanic gases that seep through the environment, this tolerance goes so far that these reptiles are capable of leaping into flowing lava as Dreki do in water. Despite being well armoured & well adapted for life in the volcanic belts Magmadons fall prey to predatory Neofauna like Basan, Ifrits & Salamanders, if not predators the environment itself is a treacherous habitat with frequent quakes, pyroclastic erosion & severe volcanic eruptions. As most Shortsnout Dreki Magmadons are not considerably fast in which they reach a speed just under 16kmh (10mph) however within lava they perform impressive bursts of speed in which have been clocked at 24kmh (15mph), these bursts are motivated at its maximum as a means of evading a predator.

Dracodylus

(L) Saevusuchus

Saevusuchus are the most prominent Dreki breeds of the Dracodylus family notably found in as well as around the borders of the Sun kissed Kingdom as savannah specialists, heavy accumulations range particularly within the remnants of Ethiopia, the Kenyan frontier, the Tanzanian pinnacle & the Botswana expanse. With a name translated as “Cruel crocodile” the Saevusuchus are incredibly infamous for their barbaric & brutal methods, the Academy of Bloomers Lobby skated around the controversial premises to dictate that their behaviour is either of a show of dominance or an intentional act of torture. Even as Diremorphs Saevusuchus are apex predators on the savannah in which they preferably target large prey like Bonnacons, Longmas, Moas & Hugag, however as unfussy eaters anything on the Savannah is fair game dead or alive & screaming. Despite being incredibly capable hunters using meticulous tactics Saevusuchus operate much akin to Hyenas in which they are no strangers to ambushing & bullying other predators off their kills, records have shown that Smilodons, Painted Jackals & even Direhyenas have been chased off through intimidation, harassment bluffs or even brutal acts of violence if the message wasn’t reciprocated. Their brutality knows no boundaries in which the most hardened of criminals particularly rebels & bandits use these Dreki as mounts of terror or even war, using these beasts to siege settlements, inflict damage & spread panic.

(M) Warra wirrin

The Warra wirrin are arid dwelling Dreki native to Under however some have found their ways through to the Neo Americas & the Sun kissed Kingdom as speculation through illegal black market trading, these Dreki are endemic to the expansive outbacks but as adapted to canyons,

plateaus, steppes & even tropical regions. The name of the Dreki takes homage to a name all to familiar with the indigenous Strayans translated as “Evil spirit”, a moniker given aspired so much from their incredibly cunning demeanour as well as utilising methods of advanced strategy that are believed to be in the realms above normal. Warra wirrin are highly intelligent for a Dreki in which they have been known to formulate & alternate their plans of attack in the motifs of achieving a successful hunt, in the event of other predators & even humans they display this intelligence in the form of slyness. With predators like carnivorous Quinkin or even Neofauna Warra wirrin have been known to deter these animals by throwing them off course through red herrings like sweeping tracks & delivering mock scent trails, with humans these Dreki deviously elevate the scales by deliberately foiling their efforts to hunting them ranging from attracting predators to their bases to sabotaging traps. Due to possessing feeble scutes & a weak bite force these Dreki are outmatched by formidable prey & predators only relying on brains to carry forthright, this would inevitably lead them to behave more like jackals or foxes often invading the pens of livestock to target easier prey. In the Neo Americas & Sun kingdom these Dreki are considered invasive in which they decimate local ecosystems by targeting easier prey or stealing the eggs of Neofauna, as pests they are notorious not only amongst farmers who breed livestock but also hunters who they turn their hunts amidst into ruination. Therefore Nimrods, specialists who hunt invasive species, target & eliminate Warra wirrin on sight as well as track their paths as a means of destroying egg mounds & hatchings.

(N) Drillbeak

Drillbeaks are Dreki found within the Arctic circles of the Northern Ice realms however some venture within the territories adjacent to them from Canadian frontier, the Russian expanse & even the skirts of the Valhallan archipelago, they inhabit the polar sea ice during the very peak periods of Old man winter but throughout the seasons they travel towards tundras, lakeshores & Rocky Mountains. Like Polar Thalassaurs Drillbeaks are adapted to the cold however unlike a natural antifreeze to protect it against the cold waters the Dreki possesses a unique circulatory system with a counter heat exchange process, to maintain a stable core temperature the Dreki is constantly on the move producing an explosive amount of kinetic energy as a means of conversion. Drillbeaks are one of the fewest Dracodylus Dreki to ‘swim’ however they move through ice sheets & snow, advancing from the crocodilians signature death roll the Dreki traverses through their environment by rapidly corkscrewing through the sheets as their snouts exude intense heat making their bizarre form of travel easier. Drillbeaks like all Dreki target large warm blooded prey like Arctic Bonnicons, Yales & Selkies, the method of attack the reptile utilises is ambushing from below in which they charge in a corkscrew fashion dazing & even injuring the quarry before ultimately overwhelming it. The pressure sensors present within the beak like snout have mutated to function more like pit organs enabling it to detect infrared, these sensors pinpoint the thermal signals of prey even navigate through complete darkness, an adaptation of residing within bitter cold & raging blizzards.

Logrdreki

(O) Suchodrakon

The Suchodrakon is a giant Dreki belonging to the Logrdreki family residing within the largest freshwater rivers of Neo Earth that being the Amazonian channel, for years these giants remain deep within this ancient waterway using a series of submerged tunnels & cave systems but rarely make their way to the surface of the jungles. As Logrdreki the Suchodrakon is a fully aquatic Dreki converging as well as adopting the base physiology of Pliosaurs like Liopleurodon or Kronosaurus & aspects off of prehistoric crocodilians like Purusaurus brasiliensis, solidifying this Dreki as a what cryptozoologists suggest as a phenomenal mutagenic evolution monikered as retropaleomorph convergence. Suchodrakon are apex predators that will attack & take down anything they can catch from large Piscis & reptiles that it shares the rivers with to the animals that drink from the shores as well as the birds that fly above, this super Dreki is even recorded to take down Neofauna that it encounters like the Ahuizotl, Cucas & Trolls. The Suchodrakon possesses an incredibly slow metabolism in which depending on the prey of choice they consume heavily affects their mood of temperament where if they consume large prey like unwary Neofauna or a copious number of animals they have no need to feed for a year, in addition upon doing so they enter a state of brumation upon locating & nesting within a sunken cave to cease activity. This is among one of the fewest reasons why this incredibly dangerous Dreki is rarely seen above water. The Suchodrakon is seen as both a local legend among both Amazons & Verdant south settlers in which they see as many depictions from a divine entity or guardians of the rivers to demons who seek to devour souls taking them to a watery grave, the Amazons of the riversides however perceive this beast as a right of passage by finding & hunting the Dreki to become an elite warrior.

(P) Phalainasaurus

The Phalainasaurus is an oceanic Dreki found almost anywhere of Neo Earths seas except for some areas at the equator & the High northern polar seas, the largest accumulation of these Dreki lay within the Devils sea. Derived from Ancient Greek the name of the Dreki translates as “Baleen reptile”, a name that greatly refers to the convergent mutation that heavily influenced the overall physiology & behaviour of Dreki becoming a fully fledged filter feeder. With the specialised teeth morphing into baleens the Phalainasaurus like baleen cetaceans feeds upon piscis fry & microscopic diremorphs known as Kryll in which their ecological predator-prey relationships is also a that of a symbiotic mutualism, as Kryll populations expand & explode the Phalainasaurus halves the cloud through consumption however the waste purged from the Dreki is nutrient rich needed for the larvae that will soon replace the lost numbers. Interestingly the Phalainasaurus is the only known Dreki to give birth to live young making them the only members to be viviparous, an adaptation uncommon to Dreki but necessary residing in open water. This method of live birth offers a significant survival advantage by protecting the developing young from predators as well as the harsh external conditions like temperature fluctuations, the Dreki retains the eggs inside for better temperature regulation & provides a consistent, safe environment for the embryos which are born with a protective membrane rather than a hard shell. The Phalainasaurus is often hunted by commercial wailers as a means of attaining scute oils for many alternative purposes such as being a key ingredient explosives, a lubricant for machinery & even as a unique alternative for margarine.

BEHAVIOUR

In the wild majority of Aquatic & Semi aquatic Dreki are solitary by nature until mating season, male Dreki in particular are most aggressive when it comes to defending their territory. Within the wild dominance amongst other Dreki is determined heavily by size, in which smaller Dreki display signs of appeasement behavior towards larger members. While terrestrial Dreki behave more in the manner synonymous to that of canids in which they discovered that groups enables them to engage in hunting strategies that end with a higher succession.

Despite their small brains relative to body size, Dreki are capable of complex behavior, rapid learning as well as  recognising key intricate details within their environment. While they are predators in their own right Dreki behavior is driven by factors like size, territorial needs $ learned associations rather than empathetic trait emotions or affection.