Kahydroniformes

Smart and powerful, Kahydrons (along with the Fuckers,) are
some of the most successful and widespread predatory animals on Snaiad. The
defining characteristics of these creatures are their characteristic
hoof-and-claw forelimbs and an innovative adaptation that gives them a hydraulic
bite on their first-head jaws. Like most other Snaiadi “vertebrates,” Kahydrons
have dual series of hydraulic muscles that serve to flex and move their
backbones and first-head necks. These organs resemble interlocking chains of
connected water balloons jacketed in tough protective cases of muscle, fat and
gristle. In almost all other advanced “vertebrates,” these chains end at the
base of the first-head. In Kahydrons, an offshoot of the hydraulic chain juts
into the “cheek” region of the first head, enabling it to bite down with extreme
pressure. As a result, Kahydrons can crack open bones, bite through their prey’s
tough hydraulic muscles and defend themselves against other predators.

Kahydroniformes are a very diverse group and have
macropredators, scavengers, omnivores, herbivores and even swimmers within their
ranks. They are also some of the smartest creatures on Snaiad; Kahydrons have
larger and tighter brain clusters in comparison to other animals their size, and
some species can even hunt cooperatively.

Species: Kahydron libansiensis
Common Names: Kahydron,
Lebanese Kahydron, Greater Kahydron.
Size: 2.5 meters long.
Habitat:
Sprogland, forest, pinnacle range and scrubland habitats across Isterna.

The so called “lions of Lebanon”, these predators are a common
sight around the human settlements across the Neomediterranean. Like all
Kahydrons they have powerful jaws with extensive hydraulic musculature, which,
along with their extendable killing claws, have given them a decisive edge in
hunting. The Greater Kahydron is noteworthy for its pack hunting behavior, long,
whip like tail and red stripes. With several related species, it is classified
as a Magnodont Kahydroniform, the dominant clade of large-game hunters on
mainland Snaiad.

As chief predators, these animals invariably come into conflict
with Fuckers, especially the Baroclavid Arbophobos mavrikaulos. With
the extermination of the latter from the Neomediterranean area, the numbers of
Greater Kahydrons have risen even more around human settlements. Fortunately,
they rarely attack people and even seem to have the potential for domestication.
Recent experiments with taming these creatures have mixed results, but seem
promising if the animals are raised from infancy.

Species: Saurokahydron ilesis
Common Name: Hazzal.
Size:
1.5-3 meters long.
Habitat: Southern Neomediterranean shores, also occurs in
the Ankyranian desert.

While the public image of these creatures is different, not all
Kahydrons are powerful macropredators. In fact, a great majority of
Kahydroniform species fill a similar role to weasels, stoats and badgers on the
bygone Earth; living secluded lives in thickets, burrows or pinnacle ranges and
hunting smaller animals. Such creatures are classified (albeit problematically
and certainly artificially,) in a common group, the Saurdont
Kahydroniformes.

Saurokahydron ilesis is one of the largest Saurodonts,
growing up to three meters or even more. It lives principally among the
Erythrophyte maquis around the southern Neomediterranean, stalking prey in the
undergrowth. Although large, it is perfectly camouflaged with a skin as reddish
as the plants it lives among. Unlike its larger cousins, Saurokahydron does not
have enlarged killing claws and snaps up its prey with rapid lunges of its
elongated first head instead. It also hunts extensively at night, and has puffy
white, enlarged heat receptors around eyes for this purpose.

A distinct, pale and smaller population of S. ilesis
inhabits the Ankyranian desert. Although the desert and the seashore populations
can produce viable offspring, these two groups might be classified as distinct
species in the future. These animals are known as Hazzals on Snaiad, and
beautiful, especially lean and dark-skinned women are likened to them as an
adjective of beauty.

Species: Urunyx kahydronoides
Common Names: Shortface
Kahydron, Forest Kahydron.
Size: 4,5-5 meters long.
Habitat: Forests
across the Vesternian Alps, Lower and High Pontic Alps, also found in the Pontic
forests.

With its short, crushing bite and long, scythe-like claws, this
hulking Kahyron looks like a terrifying predator at first sight. Indeed, it does
kill and eat some of the large forest browsers from time to time, but the
majority of Urunyx’ diet is made up of forest fruit and plants. That it
is a part-time vegetarian, however, does not mean that Urunyx is
incapable of defending itself. In the vast Pontic forests, even the deadly
Baroclavus Fuckers give them a wide berth for fear of their claws, one
swipe of which can easily disembowel any potential attacker.

Urunyx belongs to the divergent Allodont
Kahydroniformes, a group of Kahydrons notable for their distinct jaw
arrangement, free-swinging shoulders and unique foot structure. Although this
group includes placid omnivores like Urunyx, it also contains fearsome,
bulldog-like predators such as Pinchers (Stratognathos sp.)

Species: Phytokahydron midlandicus
Common Names: Herbidon,
Gray Grazer.
Size: 2 meters.
Habitat: A variety of regions in the Midland
continent.

Some Kahydroniformes such as Urunyx occasionally take
vegetation, but only this species among the entire group feeds exclusively on
vegetation. As juveniles, specimens of Phytokahydron look remarkably
similar to the yapping, meat-eating offspring of other Kahydroniformes, with a
first-head beak adapted for biting and sharp hoof-claws. As they grow up,
juvenile Phytokahydrons gradually switch to fruit, leaves and finally
tough vegetative material such as sprog, bark or even Erythrophytes. These
plants are cropped and chewed with a beak that grows more ridges and acquires
grinding surfaces as the years pass. The chewed mass is then passed down to a
specially developed sac in the first head, getting even more tenderized among
stones “swallowed” for the purpose. Finally, the whole mass is regurgitated and
siphoned by a very long “tongue” into the second head, where Snaiadi animals
have their true stomachs. This “fake stomach” is unique among Snaiadi animals to
this genus. When pregnant, female Phytokahydrons cannot use this
arrangement for feeding, and must be fed by attentive males.

This creature is the only extant species of
Phytokahydron on Snaiad, and is not, as one might expect, a result of
isolated evolution on Midland. Fossil evidence reveals that the appearance of
Phytokahydron predates the isolation of Midland from Isterna, and
rather than acting as a crucible, Midland has actually been a lifeboat for these
remarkable herbivores.

Species: Suchokahydron sedentor
Common Name:
Crochydron.
Size: Up to 5 meters, but usually less, including
tail.
Habitat: Rivers in the Azonic Jungle.

Deep inside the Azonic Jungle lurks a wonder of adaptive
radiation. Looking every bit like a twisted crocodile, this strange animal is
actually a highly derived, aquatic Kahydron. Although fairly large, it is an
extremely secretive hunter, snatching up small aquatic organisms with its
Gharial-like jaws while taking care to avoid vicious Amazonian Motor-Crocodiles
it shares its habitat with. Unlike the Motosuchids, the Crocahydron has no form
of jet propulsion; it swims with lateral undulations of its broad tail. Paddles
derived from the strong, erect limbs of its ancestors help with stability and
can carry the animal on land with surprising efficiency if need has it. Never
too common, Crochydrons are protected with captive breeding programs in order to
preserve the legacy of their evolutionary adventure.

Species: Xenodromos princeps
Common Name:
Howlrunner
Size: 2 meters.
Habitat: Sprogland plains in Notor

They may look superficially alike, but this group of running
predators is so different from other Kahydroniformes that Snaiadi zoologists see
them a sister group to other Kahydrons, or even a completely different branch of
predatory animals that has independently evolved Kahydroniform-like adaptations
such as hydraulic bites. Unlike all other Kahydrons, their rear feet have a
single toe, the tail is nearly absent and the anatomy of their limbs has been
heavily modified for a running lifestyle. They also lack the gular pouch used by
most other Kahydrons to gestate their young. Instead, the young of Xenodromoids
develop in a strange sac that extends into the chest from the base of the first
head, giving them the characteristic weird, “string-necked” look.

Whatever they are, Howlrunners live by running down fast prey
on the endless temperate plains of Notor. There are more than seven recognized
species, including dainty forest hunters (Allodaphne sp.) and thick-set
tundra runners (Vaöphobos sp.)

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