Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Ecology

Taxonomy
Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a raptorial Bird Wyvern that was discovered in the New World.

History
Not much is known about Tzitzi-Ya-Ku's discovery.

Habitat Range
Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is native to the Coral Highlands, and corpses of them are often found in Rotten Vale.

Ecological Niche
Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a medium-sized predator that low is in the food chain, feeding on Flying Meduso, Luminescent Coral, and Raphinos. From it mostly living in the lower parts of the Coral Highlands, it frequently has to compete with Shamos packs over territory and food. In higher parts of the environment, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku has to be wary of stronger monsters like Paolumu, Legiana, Odogaron, and Deviljho.

Biological Adaptations

 * Length: 894.04cm
 * Height: 351.53cm
 * Foot Measurements: 99cm

From the Coral Highland's high altitudes, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku has evolved long sharp claws on its feet and hands that aid it in climbing up cliffs. Like other Bird Wyverns, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku has muscular legs that allow it to leap great distances, and, with the assistance of its footclaws, it's able to quickly capture prey before its victims have a chance to flee. To avoid confrontations with other species, it has evolved unique colors that help it to blend into the background of its environment, allowing it to go unnoticed by predators and prey alike, while it's in a vulnerable state like when it is sleeping. If this camouflage isn't enough to protect it, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku has special pulsing organs on its head that can blind enemies. These organs gather substances, likely from it either synthesizing luminescent microorganisms in its body or its diet of Flying Meduso and Luminescent Coral, that have light-emitting properties when stimulated. By opening and closing its pulsing organs, expanding and contracting them, it stimulates the substances before reflecting light on the membrane's film to produce a blinding flash of light. It primarily uses this powerful flash for hunting Raphinos but will use it against larger predators.

Behavior
Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is relatively calm, not attacking unless it feels threatened. It'll attack humans if they follow it for too long or get too close, which researchers often do while studying monsters, so it's recommended to observe it from afar. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku can often be seen wandering around the Coral Highlands in search of prey, but it has also been seen collecting shiny shells it comes across. It's known to place them in the walls of its nest, and, much like its pulsing organs, they can reflect and diffuse light produced by Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, blinding threats that avoid the monster's initial flash. It's unknown why Tzitzi-Ya-Ku collects these shiny shells, but it's theorized that it uses them for protection against intruders and that males use them to show off their best flashy display to females.