Looting Tapsi

Looting Tapsi
Creator	Zenith
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Looting Tapsi
Zones	D
Roles	Predator
Classification
Genus	Micropteryx
Species	Micropteryx ovicomus
Evolution
Date	September 8th, 2019
Ancestor	Crested Tapsi
Descendants	Eventide Tapsi

25 cm head to tail, 45 cm wingspan (front pair)

The Looting Tapsi is a very close relative of the Red-tipped Tapsi. The main differences between the two, however, are diet and size.

Juctopinna ovicomus reproduce sexually, and males attract females with song and brightly colored wing tips. They lay clutches of purple ~10 bark colored eggs in dense tangles in the canopy of trees in Zone D. This is more than their ancestor laid, as more eggs have a chance of allowing more offspring to reach adulthood, especially in the highly predated forests of Zone D, though only about half of the eggs laid survive long enough to reproduce. Major threats to Juctopinna ovicomus are large flying predators such as A. morspotatori, A. peregris, and even their relatives, J. silvavolus.

The Looting Tapsi's diet is almost exclusively eggs (when available), and supplemented with smaller prey items during times of egg-scarcity. Eggs are a food source that don't require energy to chase and provide a large amount of nourishment to the consumer. Juctopinna ovicomus prefer to feed on the eggs lain by species that abandon them such as A. peregris, A. morspotatori, D. brunus and many others, though some daring individuals will attempt to raid guarded nests like those of D. albatrogornis, D. maritimus, D. robustus, D. tromerovenator, and many others. In the off-season, when eggs are not available, they take on a more opportunistic diet and feed on smaller organisms such as B. purpla, D. arbora, F. distringa, K. killiskippus, S. opposa, and others.

One of the biggest differences between the Looting Tapsi and the Red-tipped Tapsi is their size. Juctopinna ovicomus' size is much smaller than that of their relative, as its easier to provide nutrients for a smaller body, especially on a diet as exclusive as the Looting Tapsi's. A few more developments that it shares with its relative is sharper eyes for better vision, specialized taste buds on the roof of the mouth that enhance its sense of smell, and a bottom tail "fin" that aids in both display and stabilization. Another notable change is the amount of color found on Juctopinna ovicomus. The males are less colorful in an attempt to draw less attention from predators and angry parents when stealing eggs. Their reason for moving to Zone D is the competition for space and prey their ancestors faced, a trip made relatively easy with flight, allowing them to avoid terrain blockages such as canyons and rivers.