Original Species: Grizzly Hook-Claw by Lord-Lavrahtheen on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

The Grizzly Hook-Claw

is a vicious and highly aggressive predatory wyvern native to the grasslands of Shangrila. Related to beaked wyverns, such as the Lightning Wyvern and the Gull Mincer, it too possesses a beak and tooth combo in its maw, which it uses to quickly dispatch prey.

Unlike other terrestrial wyverns on Shangrila, this brute actually doubled down on the size and musculature of its wings and its main wing talon. Much more heavily built than its flying relatives, the Grizzly Hook-Claw stalks through the tall grass, aided by the camouflage provided by its striped hide, with the goal of finding a suitably large victim (most often an adult Batter Horn). Once it gets within striking range, the Hook-Claw lunges out of the grass and uses its eponymous claws to latch onto its prey. Next, it uses its bulk and mass to topple over the victim and rip its throat out.
If any other predator dares to disturb the Grizzly Hook-Claw during its meal, they need to be wary of the wyvern's bladed tail. One strike can shred any smaller would-be attacker to pieces, or at the very least inflict grievous wounds to larger creatures.

In order to protect its hooked claws from being worn down too quickly, the Grizzly Hook-Claw developed stiff scales that grant it extra purchase on the ground whenever it lunges forward to attack. The hooked claws themselves are almost a meter long and about as tough as iron.