Population: 1 indvidual

 

Size: 3.7 m long

 

Diet: Unknown

 

Call: Has ocassionally been heard emitting deep throaty rumblings

 

Threat Level: ???

 

The largest known SuperFauna species yet discovered, the Bearded Dragon is consistently found perched atop the Monolith dangling its 5m long beard groundward, although it has occasionally been found absent from this spot (it is unknown where it goes during these instances). This individual appears to be derived from the Dinornithidae family, a group of giant flightless birds thought to have gone extinct around 600 years ago from over-hunting by humans. Given this origin, it is possible that Dinornis Barbalonga might be very old. The elongated neck usually found on species within this family is replaced by a large head comprised of the same bone-fungus material seen in many other SuperFauna species such as Caprimulgus daemonium, Turdus perturbator and Buceros capitecavo. This head is somewhat draconic in appearance and is made up of a complex arrangement of horns, tusks, spiralling appendages, shell-like structures, conical spines and more. The exact purpose or origin of these elaborate structures is unknown, although some theories have been formed.

 

The Bearded Dragon is one of only two SuperFauna species to engage in what has been called “communion”, a behaviour which sees it remaining completely static, sometimes for weeks at a time, with its head titled skyward at an almost 90-degree angle. It is speculated that the spiralling structures on its head might provide some form of satellite detection, perhaps able to pick up distant signals for the beacon Monolith to receive (If so, it is not currently known whether these attempts at signal detection are successful or not). When communion occurs, its beard detaches and is carried off by Cone Sparrows who will continue to inhabit it after reattachment to a nearby tree or other suitable hanging point. Many of these mobile beards have been found, some being partly or wholly abandoned likely due to proximity to predators. The Dragon appears able to regrow its beard at a rapid rate, taking mere weeks for it become full sized.