Chuck Tingle
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STEAM LIZARD - TIMELINE #183329
🕑 Added 2024-01-02 18:51:02 +0000 UTC(Timeline Tuesday #127)
Steam lizards are small reptilian creatures from a nearby timeline. As the name implies, they are lizards, and for the most part this species carries all of the usual characteristics you would expect from this family of animals. They are relatively flat, with four legs and a long tail that extends behind their scaly bodies. They are cold blooded, and lay eggs as part of their natural lifecycle.
Steam lizard diets consist of insects and small rodents, which they hunt down at incredible speeds. Unlike most lizards, however, steam lizards must consume much more water to stay healthy. It is estimated that these creatures need approximately seven times the expected water consumption of a natural lizard to maintain their bodies, meaning they will only choose habitats near plentiful lakes or streams.
Steam lizards are known for their unusual skills in the realm of both hunting and defense. These creatures feature a small hole on the top of their heads, positioned in a similar way to the blowhole of a whale. Using a special organ along the steam lizard’s back, they are capable of quickly superheating the water they’ve stored and expel it through this top hole. The steam is incredibly hot, and any larger predator who may have a steam lizard in their clutches will likely find themselves with terrible burns, releasing their captive.
When hunting, steam lizards will sometimes mix the water they carry with a specialized chemical, processing it within their body. This gives weight to the steam they produce, creating a harmless low lying fog. The creatures use this fog to obscure themselves while hunting, hiding themselves from a potential meal while they make their approach.
