ECOLOGY

Environment warm oceans
Organization solitary
Treasure double

Like a piece of moving coral, this drake's coloration and scale patterns change to match nearby anemones, corals, seaweed, and urchins. This adaptation allows the creature considerable stealth in its natural habitat. It avoids combat if it can, preferring to hide and protect its young. Long serrated spines stretch from the coral drake's body, waving in brilliant colors against a blue sea. The creature's long snout stretches out from its narrow face and an array of spikes and slender protrusions form a jagged crown.

Inside the mouth, serrated teeth form multiple ringed ridges where it's young feed on leftover scraps of food and small parasites. Needle thin talons spring from finned appendages, and a stinger frilled with tiny barbs curves at the end of its slender tail. A coral drake measures 7 ft. from the tip of its snout to its barbed stinging tail. Thin and agile, the beast weighs less than 100 lb.

Both male and female coral drakes gestate their delicate eggs inside sacks within their mouths and throats. This oral incubation protects the vulnerable eggs, but even still, only a handful of these creatures ever reach maturity since their parents use the ravenous spawn for defense when faced with dangerous enemies. Coral drakes live in warm waters near great coral reefs. Many of these creatures hollow out small lairs in these reefs and protect their meager hoards with the aid of the area's natural inhabitants. Taking advantage of its natural immunity to poison, coral drakes often choose lairs nestled in forests of poisonous urchins, stinging anemones, and toxic corals.

Aside from humankind, the coral drake harbors a several-generation old rivalry with dragon turtles. These beasts prize the same hunting grounds and nests and fight for supremacy in coastal reefs.