Duck Struti
As water strutis (Strutiocheilius papius) made themselves at home in Zone 17, they naturally became more adapted for the wet life. The Duck Struti is the result of this. It is the same size as its ancestor, at 2.6 feet long and 1.5 feet tall, and it is now an omnivore--a trait oriented around ancestral chase and opportunistic instinct, which began with the accidental consumption of muscals tangled in the leaves of polyphs as well as attacking those it competed with for food, but was ultimately selected for because of the nutritional benefits and meat being fairly easy to digest; with no competition for a predatory niche, nothing stopped it. Unlike its ancestor, it swims far more often and can be found all over Zone 17 rather than just in the shallows. Its face is narrower than its ancestor's, a trait which helps it grab things buried in zone 17's sediment, and its nostrils are placed higher so that it can have its face a little deeper in the water while still being able to breathe.
The duck struti’s display feathers are the most visible change. The bouncy fluff that ran down its ancestor’s back has been reduced to just being around the neck as to create much less drag while swimming, and the display feathers on its wings and ears are now stiffened by having barbules to keep the barbs connected, which allows them to be more waterproof. Otherwise, its display feathers serve the same purpose as they did in its ancestor to assist in mate selection. After mating, they lay 2-6 eggs in a shallow nest on land. Their hatchlings can already walk and swim soon after hatching. They take 5 weeks to hatch and mature in just 6 months.
The duck struti feeds on A. anoterus, A. limnizoius, and M. greana. It will also kill and eat M. tuntea, U. subterrania, and U. axulhachus, which it competes with for polyphs. It is vulnerable to predation by D. volturcephalus while nesting.
