Bumpy Boi
Draco draco was a mesothermic dracid that had previously developed features to better tolerate a colder environment further away from the equator. The adaptations did not stop there, though. One descendant, in particular, evolved a new useful feature which boosted its success rate in that climate. Draco rhenoscallium owes its special scales to a genetic defect which caused the pointy scales found on the dewlaps of its ancestors to form on places on the rest of its body, covering its torso, limbs, and tail. These scales help to hold in a small amount of the body heat that it produces by acting as another layer, as well as help to protect the body from some wind exposure, giving it an upper edge against its close cousins.
Draco rhenoscallium grows to sixty centimeters (60 cm) in length, a size that it inherited from its ancestors to prevent rapid heat loss. Aside from the additional patterning on the rest of its body which is present to help vascularize its skin even further and to help with species recognition, it is much like its ancestor in behavior and appearance. It pushes air in with its gular pouch while running which makes it energy-efficient, and males of the species have red dewlaps which they use for whooing females to mate with. It can raise its body temperature up to twelve degrees Celsius (12°C) higher than its surroundings when the temperature is below twenty-one degrees Celsius (21°C), having a higher internal temperature and having a lower tolerance due to its improved heating system which works more efficiently. It does not produce sweat, but simply cools down by slowing back down its metabolism.
Draco rhenoscallium also feeds on many of the same things as its ancestor does. It is an omnivorous species, feeding on both polyphs and muscals. On its herbivorous side are the seeds and stems of Crooksoluis yellionuis, Lorensia clearensis, Ultraplortatus stellafrons, Ultraplortatus sustensa, and on its carnivorous side are Terroslontus lignumpurpla, Vermislontus cocotus, and Vermislontus drillus. They may also take the opportunity to feed on Draco purpurus and Draco brunus that are on the ground, as well as smaller juveniles of their own species. It is, in turn, preyed upon by Dracowyverious raptordracornis, Terror Hawk (Draconiraptor tromerovenator), Terroraptorus raptoratus, and Valkyriesaurus audioacrus throughout its lifetime, although predation is more serious as a juvenile than as an adult as they are at a smaller size.
Draco rhenoscallium mates at the end of spring and the female lays around thirty (30) eggs into a dug-out ditch. Those eggs take three weeks (3 wks) to develop and the offspring will then take another six weeks (6 wks) to fully mature. This species does not take care of the nest as they have no developed social structure, and the offspring will fend for themselves, most likely never seeing their parents again. The offspring mature throughout the summer and those that survive are typically large enough to survive the winter without having a problem, aided by their special ability to produce heat when required. They will reproduce the next year and will do so annually as long as they survive, which is typically around ten to twenty years (10-20 yrs) due to the possibility of predation and due to having a faster metabolism than their cold-blooded cousins.