Red-Tipped Tapsi
50 cm head to tail, 90 cm wingspan (front pair of wings)
Reproduction: Similarly to their relatives, male Red-tipped Tapsis attract females through their songs and bright colors. They lay and abandon clutches of ~10 camouflaged eggs that resemble bark in the tops of trees of Zone D. They lay more eggs than their ancestors in the hopes that more hatchings survive, though only about half make it to adulthood. The main reason for these changes in reproduction are the larger predators of Zone D, especially A. morspotatori and several species of large predatory wyverns.
Diet: Juctopinna silvavolus is a generalist carnivore, and will feed on most small prey items found in Zone D such as C. caeruleum, C. equinoxum, C. flumum, D. arbora, F. distringa, K. killiskippus, O. flectopesus, P. allium, R. subaquatica, S. opposa, T. purpa, and V. cuniculum, as well as the multitude of eggs laid by those and other species. The addition of eggs to the diet allows for a decent amount of easy nutrients. This change likely evolved when a few curious individuals attempted to feed on eggs and found it to be a valid source of energy.
Adaptations: Juctopinna silvavolus has shrunk slightly in size. This is due to several reasons, the primary two being that a smaller body takes less nutrients to run, and that its easier to avoid the large predators that roam Zone D's size when you're smaller. They've also lost some of their display colors for similar reasons. Additionally, their eyes have become more developed, allowing them to see further and more clearly in order to detect prey and avoid predators. Red-tipped Tapsis have also developed a specialized structure on the roof of their mouth, a set of modified taste buds that instead pick up scent. This is another adaptation that allows them to hunt and stay alive. Juctopinna silvavolus have migrated to Zone D through the diffusion of their large predatory ancestors competing for space in Zone C, a change that was relatively easy due to it being easier to cross mountains, canyons and valleys when an organism can fly. Red-tipped Tapsis have also developed an additional "fin" on the bottom of their tail, which aids in-air stabilization and also provides space for more colors in mating display.
