Rathalos Ecology

Disclaimer: This is merely a plausible explanation for the monster(s) in this article, and should not be considered canon.

In-Game Information
Rathalos is a male Wyvern that keeps a nest and patrols its patch of territory from the air in search of prey. Its claws are filled with a poison that weakens its quarry.

Taxonomy
One of the most recognized of the true flying wyverns, Rathalos is a bipedal creature that sports a pair of strong wings and a long tail that holds a spiked end frequently used as a weapon in combat. Rathalos are easily distinguished by their brightly colored bodies. Like other true flying wyverns, Rathalos is extremely proficient in the use of its fire breath, scorching foes from great distances.

Habitat Range
Rathalos can survive in almost any environment save for the snowy mountains. Their high metabolism means medium sized prey must be relatively abundant, so many Rathalos stick to forested areas where grazing herbivores are plentiful. Rathalos and their mates nest almost exclusively in large wind-sheltered caves near mountain tops. It is one of the most territorial of true flying wyverns. One curiosity among Rathalos is the reason for which silver colored Rathalos are sometimes spotted at the ancient tower; none have studied the subject thoroughly enough or tracked a Silver Rathalos long enough to come up with a logical conclusion. This is due to many factors, including the fact that Silver Rathalos' are incredibly rare and almost cryptic.

Ecological Niche
Rathalos is an alpha predator. It fears almost nothing else found in its habitat ranges, except other fire wyverns. The creature's territorial nature means many young males never reach adulthood, as they are forced from hunting grounds by older males and forced to seek easier prey. This often accounts for many of the attacks of human villages or lifestock. Rathalos will even prey on lesser wyverns, particularly bird wyverns such as Yian Kut-Ku or primatius such as Congalala or Bulldrome. Only a few monsters in a Rathalos's territory are strong enough to fight back if a Rathalos is attacking. Foremost among them are other fire-wyverns and large monsters that live in the same habitat. Among these is the Lagiacrus. They are large and strong enough to give an adult Rathalos a good fight. Because of this, both wild Rathalos and Lagiacrus are wary of each other and avoid conflict. If Rathalos are not wary of Lagiacrus, then there is not a 100% chance that it will return to its nest. Besides the occasional Lagiacrus however, there are few other monsters that are willing or capable to attack a Rathalos.

Biological Adaptations
An adept flyer, Rathalos often uses fire-balls to attack foes from both land and air. Rathalos has powerful hindlegs making it extremely fast on ground, but also giving it the capability to launch devastating claw attacks from the air, often severely injuring its target. While in the air it is also capable of diving to claw foes on the ground. A Rathalos' claws contain a potent toxin that will often kill a hunter if he/she doesn't seek immediate treatment after the blow that inflicted the wound. Rathalos, like many others of its kind, has a powerful roar that it uses to intimidate rivals and stun prey. Its bright red scales most likely serves to attract a mate. The different color variations may also indicate the wyvern's age; Red being the youngest, Azure being middle-aged, and Silver being relatively old.

Behavior
Rathalos is very aggressive and intelligent, even by wyvern standards. Like all true flying wyverns, Rathalos possesses the cunning, speed and strength to fell almost any threat or prey they come across in the wild, though it will rarely challenge anything larger than itself outside its territory. It also seems that whilst in combat with a significant threat, Rathalos becomes enraged far more often than most other monsters. Rathalos are especially aggressive during mating season when territorial disputes are common. A single adult male's territory may exceed several hundred square kilometers, and competition for the best hunting grounds is fierce. After mating with a female Rathian, Rathalos will play the role of a protective father, actively patrolling his territory for a significant threat, freeing the Rathian to hunt for food and care for offspring.