Sand Glider

Much like normal rays, these beings are not overly large, the males being the bigger of the two at about 60-70 cm, weighing around 10-12 kilograms with the females being slightly smaller. What makes them different from their cousin species is the fact that these ray's hold bone like structures on the edges of their smooth skin. Much like added fins, these bone-like material works like added fins or barriers from predators and a way to snag prey. They have often been described as the water slicing fish as it seems as through they slice through the water in order to swim with such smoothness and speed. This species comes in a variety of colors such as tans, greys, and deep blues. Being capable of blending into the sand or surrounding rock quiet well, their spines looking like growing coral, allowing them to hide when resting or nesting. The strangest thing about these rays is that the mouth of this animal is not located on the bottom of it's head like any other ray, but instead in front of the animal like you would find on a shark, or fish. This mouth is full of small razor sharp teeth, which are designed to tear into flesh of small creatures.

Distribution

The Glider is quite common, being found almost anywhere with temperate to warmer waters, tending to stay away from only the harsh cold of the very far north, being far too cold for them to survive. These animals stick to areas of large sand banks or rock foundations for them to glide and visit.

Habitat

The most often time to find this animal is just below the sand, spending many hours of the day resting like a hiding predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike, only coming out to hunt or to move. One might consider them lazy if they did not have such a bold strategy of simply sitting and waiting, using their great eyesight to be able to watch for food to pass by.

Diet

This creatures food source consists mainly of small fish or crustaceans, such as shrimp or crab. They will eat daily, but avoid over stuffing themselves in case they need to flee or move, their capability of smooth movement in the water which gives them their names, means they must remain light enough to uphold the speed and capability.

Relations

The glider is a passive hunter, being that it hides in plain sight for most of it's time, only coming out to eat or move. These creatures will flee if threatened by another predator, but are capable of being tamed given the right food and prompting. They will stay with those who continue to feed them, even hiding, and using their spikes like a barrier beneath the sand, a very painful way to find out what you stepped on.

Mechanics

• The Sand Glider has very good eyesight, able to see long range and quite aware of their surroundings.
• Male Sand Gliders are territorial when protecting the nest of a female.
• Sand Gliders are rather quick and graceful in the waters.
• The Sand Glider blends in almost perfectly when it lays upon the surface of the sand.
• These rays' barbs are serrated, having jagged edges, and are incredibly painful should one step or be hit by one. They will be incredibly difficult to remove, and will tear out flesh if not properly extracted. The ray's barbs grow back over a few months time if taken from them in defense.

Material Properties

• The barbs of this animal are capable of being extracted upon its death, and are the perfect serrated arrowheads due to the small holes within the barbs that are strangely capable of holding poison or other potions. This is in addition to the already terrible damage it can cause, and the steel-like hardness it has means it can be reused if recovered.

Alchemical Properties

• If the animal's bones are boiled down into a broth with enough patience and time, the resulting effect is a great counteraction for effects that cause weakness or degradation of the muscles within the body. It does tend to lower the potency of effects that overcharge the body's system, such as removing inhibitions for example.

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier