Spardophrey

The Spardophrey split from its ancestor and became a predator in Hydro, increasing greatly in size due to lack of competition for its niche. Its anal arm is short, decreasing drag so that it may fly longer with less energy. Its middle anal finger is also short, giving it a distinct forked tail, which in combination with its wing shape make it able to fly at high speeds to chase after prey. It kills its prey quickly using its large, powerful lateral mandibles. Due to its high speed and swift killing method, it can be compared to a Terran cheetah, only with wings. Unlike its cousin, the Zykemet, the Spardophrey has a preference for larger ground-dwelling and low-flying prey rather than catching small prey out of the air, though when the opportunity arises it will still attack smaller fliers that are on the ground. Indeed, it will also prey on its cousin; given the anal arm contributes to the length measurement, the Spardophrey is actually the larger of the two. Its main prey is the Long-Footed Spardi, though it will also eat non-spardi stinzers. It has lost its raptorial arm, leaving only a bump containing a jumble of fused bones where it was before.

Like its ancestor, the Spardophrey is a heterotherm which must bask to warm up but can maintain heat in its wings during flight. It can nest in large flora, such as gazebos, but lacking those it can also steal nests from other creatures or dig a shallow burrow with its lateral mandibles. Its offspring are born more developed, the shorter anal arm allowing it to have a wider birth canal without causing issues with aerodynamics. Rather than completely altricial pseudo-radial young, its young are only semi-altricial and resemble the adults with underdeveloped lateral jaws. The babies are still dependent on parental care, as they cannot hunt on their own and can’t fly very well. Like its ancestor, it mates by "holding hands"; despite everything, its forked tail is still a hand with fingers, which interlock to perform a cloacal kiss.