Ecology Entry - Windward Plains - Chatacabra and Bulaqchi
One of the first large monsters many will encounter in the Windward Plains is the amphibian, Chatacabra.
These curious animals can be found roaming through most of the Windward plains, but prefer the wet rivers and oases as well as the shaded fulgurite caves of the plains. Both locations are favored by Chatacabra due to their unique behaviors that make them well adapted to the Windward Plains. Being amphibians, they are anamniotes, meaning their eggs lack the barrier that protects the embryo during development (amnion). This means they must spawn in bodies of water to provide the correct conditions for development. Though breeding behaviors haven't been observed yet, the presence of multiple Chatacabra around these bodies of water during the season of plenty suggests this is when mating, spawning, and hatching occur. Chatacabra clutches are likely large and hatch soon after being laid to avoid desiccation once the season of plenty is over and the fallow makes the plains hot and dry again. Larval Chatacabra possibly mature quickly but would serve as ample prey for many of the predators of the plains including Windrustlers when they're eggs or tadpoles and Talioths when they're just finding their way onto land. Individuals who do survive grow to an average of five meters and likely reach sexual maturity as quickly as they grew.
As for the fulgurite caves, the Chatacabra come here for three reason: shade, food, and fulgurite crystals. As amphibians, being out in the hot sun for too long is a bad idea, even for well adapted species like the Chatacabra. Often, they can be found scouring the caves for their preferred prey: Bulaqchi.
Bulaqchi are neopterons that hang on cave walls and ceilings, striking in swarms against any unlucky animal that wander deep into these caves. They use their long proboscis to pierce their prey and inject digestive fluids to dissolve the insides of whatever they're hunting. This allows them to consume their food very efficiently, often before their prey can react. It's also been noted these insects do the same with carrion, making them very opportunistic animals. Bulaqchi are very sensitive too, their forelegs and feathered antennae making them incredibly adept at detecting vibrations and smells. Sensitive enough that even sonic bombs will disorientate them. Despite the effectiveness of these hunters, to the Chatacabra, they're nothing more than a tasty snack.
For the fulgurite crystals themselves, Chatacabra exhibit a fascinating behavior of using the surrounding rocks and minerals as armor. Chatacabra have very long tongues that they use for both hunting and covering there highly developed forelimbs in a sticky mucus produced in their saliva. They then stick strong materials on there forelimbs when threated, making even strong hunter weapons bounce off. Chatacabra aren't afraid to explore even riskier areas for prime crystal locations as many have been seen scaling the fulgurite caves to where large mounds of crystals have formed on the top from repeated lightning strikes.
These armored amphibians may be low on the food chain in the Windward Plains, however they play a vital role in pest control as their insectivorous diet helps prevent excessively high populations of creatures such the aforementioned Bulaqchi. Similarly to the Ceratonoths, the Chatacabra likely evolved into it's specific niche due to the Eastland's unusual climatic pressures but it makes me wonder why we don't see a similar amphibian, or the Chatacabra itself, in more productive and wet regions like the Scarlet Forest. Perhaps it's that exact reason why Chatacabra are so widespread in the Windward Plains instead of the Scarlet Forest. The Scarlet Forest is home to many species of monster, both large and small, that Chatacabra at many of its life stages would have a hard time competing with. But in the plains, Chatacabra is in a niche no other monster finds itself in and uses the available resources quite differently from other large monsters. Even when it comes to predation of young, there would be too many Chatacabra spawn for any of the predatory species to make a massive impact on the populations that reach adulthood. There is much to theorize about this monster, perhaps we'll learn more with further investigations.
