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| The Shikk'ahn is a reptilian creature, native to the Saskanar regions, and closely resembling a Terran velociraptor in miniature. Standing approximately 1 to 2 feet tall, a Shikk'ahn possesses a set of muscular rear legs, making them capable of astonishing leaps and amazing sprinting feats, especially when startled. The middle toe of each hind foot possesses a razor-sharp killing claw, that the Shikk'ahn uses to dig in the dirt or to attack when threatened. Their forelegs are rather puny, ending in four-fingered claws capable of grasping, but not lifting anything more than a few pounds in weight. A long muscular tail balances out the serpentine neck upon which a triangular head sits, with a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth. Unlike most sauroids, Shikk'ahn visual acuity is not based upon movement, but rather on light and dark, much like mammals of today. The forward set of the eyes, giving them binocular vision, would seem to confirm this theory. The hunting habits of wildborn Shikk'ahn revolve around pack-swarm tactics. One to three Shikk'ahn will flush out prey, then attempt to disable it while the rest of the pack swarms the target, each hoping to get a bite. Their usual prey are small ground-dwelling mammals or sea creatures, resorting to carrion in lean times. Nicknamed "Anklebiters," these creatures aren't a danger to a normal Sinaian except in numbers, but hate Fuff'nars and will attack any number of them on sight. As civilization on Sinai spread, it was discovered that Shikk'ahn meat was, as one historian put it, "Good eatin's." Since then Shikk'ahn have been tamed. Unlike their wilder, more ferocious cousins, tame Shikk'ahn are typically docile (unless they've not been fed in a week!), and have had their killing claws either removed or bred out, however they will still attack a Fuff'nar upon sight or scent. They're raiseable in farms nearly anywhere on the planet, save for deserts and cold climates. Fried Shikk'ahn is one of the more popular versions of Shikk'ahn meat in circulation today, and the hide is marginally useful for clothing or very seldomly, upholstery. Shikk'ahn are easily recognizable by the distinctive trills, chirps, and whistles of their kind, and even moreso by the unmistakable 'Battle Screech' they make when enraged ("SHRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKK!!!!"). The chicks, until they are older, tend to emit small 'Peep!' noises. There is some conjecture that Shikk'ahn sounds constitute a language of sorts, but no conclusive evidence has come forth to support this.
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