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Description
I took quite the long break from K.S.S. I had to since I wanted too explore other drawings I've been wanting to do. I've also been quite busy working on Rodans model for an animation but here it is, A new entry for K.S.S.. This one is late unfortunately due to me being rather busy lately. I might go to a 1 drawing per week schedule.

Varanopedes ( Monitor Lizard Footed ) are living fossils that were once thought to be extinct but were rediscovered to have been living in the mountainous regions in China, Having not changed much from their fossils.

Due to their isolation from human civilization, The Varanopedes or Varans for short are not afraid of humans and as a result plentiful research has been documented about them with relative ease.

Early life and Hunting:

Varanopedes begin their lives by chirping from within their eggs. They do this to synchronize their hatching with their siblings. In their burrows are a batch of up to 35 eggs. Once all hatched they will begin eating the residue of the eggs as a small snack before their journey for outside their home is a dangerous world.

The constant chirping would have attracted predators such as snow leopards and others big enough to eat the cat sized offspring's. Once all ready, They will rush out and run for their lives at blazing speeds. Quick turns help them escape death for a little longer but not all will be so lucky but the few that are still have many challenges in their life. The young will live high in the tree tops, protected by the canopy. Here they will hunt insects and small birds whilst honing their ambush tactics and their ability to glide. They glide with ease thanks to a flight bladder filled with methane, incredibly similar to that of a pair of lungs.

They will stay in the trees for a good portion of their lives and only leave its safety once they are too big and heavy for the branches to carry them. Coming down from the canopy, The Liger sized teenagers are now forced to hunt on the ground for the new and main prey item: Mountain Goats.

Mountain goats live in these dangerous environments to deter predators, But this strategy is what the Varans have adapted for, For every few are brave enough or capable of hunting them in these dangerous cliffs. The Varans however have adapted to them. All those times spent in the canopy would have taught them all they need to know.

Once prey is in sight, They will Leap off and glide using their patagium pouncing on the unsuspecting goat. Their dexterous hands and long claws allow them to climb back up the mountains to feast on their prey.

Adulthood and Mating:

Not much would have changed between their teen years and adulthood, They would have reached to their size of 10 feet tall and their hunting strategy would be refined and perfected, It's at this stage where the males become more violent, They will leave their territory in search of as many females to mate with. The males will also go through a vibrant makeover as their brown scales turning to a red hue and the white trims on their wings getting an iridescent glow.

All of this is to tell the male how healthy he is, But the females will not be easy to get. The female will fight the male not because she's not ready. But to see how well he can defend himself. This is a rite of passage for both of them. She has to make sure that the man that chose her is worthy. It's either this, Or she will watch from a distance watching two males fight with the winner being chosen by the female.

If the male is deemed worthy by the female, She will let him mount her and they will mate. Both genders will mate with up to 10 to 15 partners and when done, The female will create a burrow and lay her eggs in them. Varans don't guard their nests and leave the children to fend for themselves as there are very few predators that will try their luck at climbing the mountains they live in, let alone go through the trouble of digging out the eggs.

Evasion:

Due to them being unfamiliar with us, They are curious enough to try putting us on their menu so to speak. If you see a young Varanopede stalking you. It is recommended you make yourself look bigger by waving your arms around and yelling to scare it off, If this doesn't work, You can either run or fight the Varan.

If they are in midair : Sharp turns from side to side will dismay any Varan mid flight from eating you, Small spaces will also deter them away as they cannot make sharp turns in the air.

Should you find yourself in the jaws of one, Punching it's eyes or nose will make the Varan release you from it's grasp.

Trivia:

Shockingly, Varans have the highest rate of albinism and leucism of any species, During research as many as 50 albinos/leucistic specimens were documented. It is likely to be a favored trait by both sexes.

There have been eye witness accounts of a 50 foot tall Varan living in Koko Nor, lake, Qinghai province, west-central China. but no such sightings have been documented.

Varan bones are eaten by locals as it is be believed to relieve arthritis and other joint related pains.

Description
I took quite the long break from K.S.S. I had to since I wanted too explore other drawings I've been wanting to do. I've also been quite busy working on Rodans model for an animation but here it is, A new entry for K.S.S.. This one is late unfortunately due to me being rather busy lately. I might go to a 1 drawing per week schedule.

Varanopedes ( Monitor Lizard Footed ) are living fossils that were once thought to be extinct but were rediscovered to have been living in the mountainous regions in China, Having not changed much from their fossils.

Due to their isolation from human civilization, The Varanopedes or Varans for short are not afraid of humans and as a result plentiful research has been documented about them with relative ease.

Early life and Hunting:

Varanopedes begin their lives by chirping from within their eggs. They do this to synchronize their hatching with their siblings. In their burrows are a batch of up to 35 eggs. Once all hatched they will begin eating the residue of the eggs as a small snack before their journey for outside their home is a dangerous world.

The constant chirping would have attracted predators such as snow leopards and others big enough to eat the cat sized offspring's. Once all ready, They will rush out and run for their lives at blazing speeds. Quick turns help them escape death for a little longer but not all will be so lucky but the few that are still have many challenges in their life. The young will live high in the tree tops, protected by the canopy. Here they will hunt insects and small birds whilst honing their ambush tactics and their ability to glide. They glide with ease thanks to a flight bladder filled with methane, incredibly similar to that of a pair of lungs.

They will stay in the trees for a good portion of their lives and only leave its safety once they are too big and heavy for the branches to carry them. Coming down from the canopy, The Liger sized teenagers are now forced to hunt on the ground for the new and main prey item: Mountain Goats.

Mountain goats live in these dangerous environments to deter predators, But this strategy is what the Varans have adapted for, For every few are brave enough or capable of hunting them in these dangerous cliffs. The Varans however have adapted to them. All those times spent in the canopy would have taught them all they need to know.

Once prey is in sight, They will Leap off and glide using their patagium pouncing on the unsuspecting goat. Their dexterous hands and long claws allow them to climb back up the mountains to feast on their prey.

Adulthood and Mating:

Not much would have changed between their teen years and adulthood, They would have reached to their size of 10 feet tall and their hunting strategy would be refined and perfected, It's at this stage where the males become more violent, They will leave their territory in search of as many females to mate with. The males will also go through a vibrant makeover as their brown scales turning to a red hue and the white trims on their wings getting an iridescent glow.

All of this is to tell the male how healthy he is, But the females will not be easy to get. The female will fight the male not because she's not ready. But to see how well he can defend himself. This is a rite of passage for both of them. She has to make sure that the man that chose her is worthy. It's either this, Or she will watch from a distance watching two males fight with the winner being chosen by the female.

If the male is deemed worthy by the female, She will let him mount her and they will mate. Both genders will mate with up to 10 to 15 partners and when done, The female will create a burrow and lay her eggs in them. Varans don't guard their nests and leave the children to fend for themselves as there are very few predators that will try their luck at climbing the mountains they live in, let alone go through the trouble of digging out the eggs.

Evasion:

Due to them being unfamiliar with us, They are curious enough to try putting us on their menu so to speak. If you see a young Varanopede stalking you. It is recommended you make yourself look bigger by waving your arms around and yelling to scare it off, If this doesn't work, You can either run or fight the Varan.

If they are in midair : Sharp turns from side to side will dismay any Varan mid flight from eating you, Small spaces will also deter them away as they cannot make sharp turns in the air.

Should you find yourself in the jaws of one, Punching it's eyes or nose will make the Varan release you from it's grasp.

Trivia:

Shockingly, Varans have the highest rate of albinism and leucism of any species, During research as many as 50 albinos/leucistic specimens were documented. It is likely to be a favored trait by both sexes.

There have been eye witness accounts of a 50 foot tall Varan living in Koko Nor, lake, Qinghai province, west-central China. but no such sightings have been documented.

Varan bones are eaten by locals as it is be believed to relieve arthritis and other joint related pains.