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IllustratedMenagerie — Rat Pecker

Published: 2023-01-31 15:22:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 9937; Favourites: 195; Downloads: 0
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Description    Although much of their diversity was lost in the aftermath of the dynastic extinction, some azhdarchids in the family Ungulaconidae held on as small game generalists hunting rodents on the ground, and this branch has come back with a vengeance. The ancestor of all modern species is descended from an animal much like the rat-pecker Ungulaconus vulgarensis, a small azhdarchid found throughout the known world, although most common in dry tropical habitats.

   Like other ungulaconids, they have forsaken their middle three fingers for a hooflike cluster of scales, which helps protect their forelimbs from damage as they gallop about chasing small game. Their preference is rodents, but they will take just about any small game they can fit in their mouths, even taking on more than they can swallow in their voracity. Although filthy in appearance, many cities begrudgingly appreciate having them around, as they happily eat refuse and clean up any pests they find, both rodent and insect. They don’t have a foul smell, likely due to having a poor sense of smell, but they emit a shrill cry whenever they find potential food, or at least enough to support others. They are social animals, living in decentralized flocks, and are surprisingly altruistic in making sure others are fed. They are constantly on the move looking for prey, and most cities have become accustomed to them and begrudgingly accept their presence as a frustrating assistant in keeping the streets clean. Some even welcome them into houses, especially if rodents are spotted.
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Comments: 19

ImNguyenDangBaoNam [2024-04-20 14:32:05 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

kulehatdude [2023-02-01 04:12:28 +0000 UTC]

👍: 2 ⏩: 1

IllustratedMenagerie In reply to kulehatdude [2023-02-01 04:14:47 +0000 UTC]

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TheVindicators [2023-02-01 03:24:46 +0000 UTC]

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OlivierDudot [2023-01-31 17:36:25 +0000 UTC]

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IllustratedMenagerie In reply to OlivierDudot [2023-01-31 17:38:15 +0000 UTC]

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OlivierDudot In reply to IllustratedMenagerie [2023-01-31 18:08:32 +0000 UTC]

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Megaraptor70 [2023-01-31 17:28:13 +0000 UTC]

👍: 2 ⏩: 1

IllustratedMenagerie In reply to Megaraptor70 [2023-01-31 17:40:44 +0000 UTC]

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AcidicGlavenus1 In reply to IllustratedMenagerie [2023-01-31 18:08:32 +0000 UTC]

👍: 2 ⏩: 1

IllustratedMenagerie In reply to AcidicGlavenus1 [2023-01-31 19:31:19 +0000 UTC]

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Fushigi-Okami [2023-01-31 17:08:07 +0000 UTC]

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IllustratedMenagerie In reply to Fushigi-Okami [2023-01-31 17:44:33 +0000 UTC]

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Megaraptor70 In reply to IllustratedMenagerie [2023-01-31 19:26:57 +0000 UTC]

👍: 2 ⏩: 1

IllustratedMenagerie In reply to Megaraptor70 [2023-01-31 19:30:09 +0000 UTC]

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MarvellousMemento [2023-01-31 16:02:38 +0000 UTC]

👍: 4 ⏩: 1

IllustratedMenagerie In reply to MarvellousMemento [2023-01-31 16:22:19 +0000 UTC]

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MarvellousMemento In reply to IllustratedMenagerie [2023-01-31 16:24:10 +0000 UTC]

👍: 4 ⏩: 1

TheVindicators In reply to MarvellousMemento [2023-02-01 03:21:43 +0000 UTC]

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