Kha'eshan Bestiary: Speedilus

We return to Kha'eshan and the continent of Eruth to find a peculiar yet familiar-looking creature.

The Speedilus is a small reptilian creature that inhabits the drier areas around the Great Coastal Grasslands. This descendant of the Picondilus chose a slightly different evolutionary path from its quadrupedal relatives. To move around more efficiently in its dry and hot habitat, it developed a bipedal stance, allowing it to run faster and have fewer points of contact with the hot sand. This adaptation also enables it to escape predators more effectively (on average, it can run about as fast as a regular human).

The prominent osteoderms on its neck and back serve as another form of defense. While they can't protect the Speedilus from larger predators, those within its size range have more trouble getting through the tough armor.

Much like the other crocodilian relatives of Eruth, this little guy is also a herbivore. Its robust teeth allow it to feed on a variety of tough plants, making use of anything the arid areas have to offer.