Questing beast

Questing beast Scientific Name: Camelopardalis glatisant Nicknames: Beast glatisant, Serpard

Physical Description Body Type: Reptilia Maximum Size: 90cm Colouration: Yellow and white with black spots Biological Information Diet: Carnivorous Habitat: Discovery Date: 1551 AN Locale:  Moorland Related Species: None Threat: Endangered

The Questing beast, also called the Beast glatisant, is a species of reptile native to the Ford Islands. It is endemic to the two Ford Islands, Questing and Genitsa, and is not found elsewhere on Micras. The animal was first described in the Chronicle of Questing around 1551 when it was discovered by settlers from the Kingdom of Bosworth. Early descriptions, lacking scientific inquiry, said the beast was a mix between four animals; a serpent, a leopard, a lion, and a hart. Later analysis, which included DNA sequencing, firmly identified it as a reptile closely related to snakes and lizards. Unlike these however, the Questing beast has many distinctive features that set it apart from common reptiles. The most obvious trait is that they are covered in a fine fur coat similar to that of a leopard and with similar spots that help with natural camouflage. The yellowish color and spots help them to blend in with the scrub brush of the native broom shrubs (for which Genitsa is named), especially when in flower. This gives it the appearance of having the body of a lion, though this is quickly dismissed when one looks at the sinewy neck topped by a head clearly resembling that of a snake. They also possess a rudimentary form of hooves. Since their discovery, taxonomists have now placed the Questing beast in its own category. The common consensus is that these animals are a remnant of a very ancient species dating back to the age of dinosaurs. The isolation of the Ford Islands provided a safe haven where these animals were protected from factors that led other such species to extinction. The lack of competition from other species meant that the Questing beast has evolved little in form from its ancient ancestors. Although carnivorous, the primary diet of Questing beasts is small animals such as mice, squirrels, and rabbits. Questing beasts are today a protected species safeguarded by Moorland's environmental conservation laws. Environmentalists continue to study these animals and often refer to them as the "platypus of the reptile world" for their similar admixture of traits from seemingly multiple species.