Draco Major: Fretum Cestus

~*The Thalasa Snakes~*~

Next page: TBA

Basic introduction
Thalasa Snakes are the dragons contribution to sea monsters. Steely and determined this massive marine reptiles are the kings of the ocean. However as powerful and magnificent as they are, they are rather shy and reclusive which leaves a good portion of their life unstudied.

Base stats
Height: 8 ft (2.4 m) when on land
Length: 50 ft (15 m) from snout to tail tip.
Weight: ~ 4250 lbs

Latin Name:
Fretum Cestus -> Angry Sea Shark
Diet:  Primarily sea life like fish and small whales but will breach on land if prey presents itself.
Lifespan: Oldest on record is 100 years

Habitat:Anadromous- So they live in the sea but nest in fresh water.

Fire Breather?:
No. Shoots hot water.
Uses:
Purely Defense  

Basic Biology
Thalasa’s are probably the most diverse of the Draco’s since it has evolved to live in the water. They still have a vestigial flight bladder that how houses a small supply of extremely hot water. This is rarely used and generally in defense when breached on land or at the surface.  

These dragons horns have almost all but vanished but they still hold a small pair along with massive crocodile like scales. These extend down the back to the tail and provide a very strong, tough armor. They have two dorsal fins that are still in the beginning stages of development but are continuing to grow in size. Their wings have undergone the largest change through their evolution. The bones that once made up the wings have become small and make up the inner structure of their flippers. They have also evolved a set of pelvic fins that are thought to be what is left of their hind legs. These dragons do still breathe air however and are much like whales. They have an amazing lung capacity that allows them to dive for up to an hour at a time.

These dragons are thought to have split from the same ancestor as the Vulcan’s seeing as their jaws both share a similar design and rise in the top jaw. With Thalasa’s it still has the same purpose and helps to lock prey in their jaws.

Thalasa Snakes tend to be a sort of blue to turquoise mixture in color on top but their stomachs are almost always a light blue to white. This color patterning is known as counter shading which is also see in Sky writers. It makes for a natural type of camouflage for the dragons. Prey looking up for danger would only see the light under belly, much like the sky. While prey looking down see the dark tops which blends in with the ocean depths.

These dragons are extremely agile in the water, reaching speeds up to 25 mph but are slow and cumbersome on land. They are still dangerous however and should not be underestimated when beached. When stranded these animals panic and have a large range of motion. There are no records of a Thalasa dying from being beached because they are so good at wiggling their way back into water.

Life Cycle
Thalasa’s are large creatures that take a long time to mature. It takes 5 years for both a male and female to mature to breeding age but they are able to be on their own by age 3.

Males are loners while Females join up and make pods between 2-3 individuals. These pods stay together to hunt and raise young. However when it comes time for mating season pods will split up. Females head up river, usually to the ones they hatched from to seek out a suitable nesting site and mate.
Males head up river prior to this time, staking out territories like Crocodiles which they defend aggressively and with their lives.

Males with large and rich stretches of river can host as many as 4 nesting females and even 5 females at a time. Each of which he will bred to produce a clutch of up to 7 eggs. Nests are unique to each mother but normally consist of at least mud, twigs and local vegetation. They are made half in water, half out and are usually very well hidden. Eggs are laid inside these nests and guarded by not only the females but even the males of the region. Eggs hatch around 5 weeks and chicks immediately take to the water. New born hatchlings can often be seen climbing on their mothers backs until they figure out how to swim. Chicks not supervised CAN drown at this young of an age but only tends to occur with inexperienced mothers.

Like most dragons the mothers must provide food for their hatchlings but Thalasa chicks are a little more independent. These chicks are completely capable of catching small fish and bugs as soon as they hatch. However their poor hunting attempts are not enough to keep them full and still require someone to provide them with food.

A week after hatching, hatchlings and mother will leave the rivers while males remain. Larger males will sometimes try to ‘weed’ out the competition and attack younger males as they return to the sea. Smart males will wait two weeks to avoid confrontation while arrogant ones will try and make a break for it with or right after the females.

Pods reform at sea and mothers work together to raise their young. Females do not return to breed until after their chicks are old enough to fend for themselves. Female chicks unable to breed will often leave their pods and form their own OR sometimes will follow their mothers to the nesting grounds to help raise their siblings. Males leave once they reach three years old.

Behavior
Female pods are solitary from other Thalasa pods and rarely come in contact with others. They don’t like mingling with other creatures and are ferociously protective of their young. They are fairly go happy when not on the hunt and display a lot of the same behaviors as dolphins when they have ‘free time’. Rare sightings include these massive creatures jumping from the water and splashing at the surface. This behavior changes when meeting lone males in the wild which is rare but does happen. Females only tolerate males during mating season and for good reason. Males will kill chicks outside of the river in order for the females to become available again for the next season.
The few times that pods will join with others is on larger hunts. Typically this is with other large migratory animals (like whales) are moving through.

Hunting tactics for these animals vary on what they have learned in their life time as well as what food they prefer. Males are usually more direct and go for frontal attacks with a lot of speed. Some even do breach attacks like Great White Sharks. Females and pods are usually more skilful and involve coordinated attack patterns.
When near shore or nesting in rivers these dragons will attack land based prey if they are close enough to the waters edge. In this case they are very much like crocodiles and drag their victims under to drown before eating.

Being so solitary not much else is known about these dragons but considering their level of danger it’s not too surprising no one as attempted a close, in depth study.

Other resources:

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For 's Dragon Design contest.

Anyone else touch my angels here and I'll feed you to them
Seriously.
NO TOUCHIE!!!

THESE ARE NOT FREE TO CREATE!!!!
I do hope though that, should my angels be chosen by the group they continue letting me work on them. I have so many ideas and tons of ideas for more species and animals for the Nordanner Lands.

Should I not be chosen these dragons have a 'Plan B' home lined up. ^_^

And yes....ALL of these dragons are based on real animals to some extent. Oh how my evolutions class and Biology major has helped me. X3
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Art and Dragon concepts © =PrimalInstincts