Bestiary
Artwork by CAIV0.
A fearsome predator of the wetlands and waterways, and a rare and treasured sight to many.
Dwarfing most of its relations, this dragonfly species has been observed in a wide variety of vivid colours and with a wingspan of up to 30cm, or 1 foot. It is easily identified both by its size, and the large hook-shaped prongs upon its head. It is unknown whether this unusual feature bestows any advantage to these dragonflies, or if it developed through sexual selection, but it is uniformly found across the species, despite some variation in the shape between populations.
They are extremely successful predators, with their incredible hunting prowess seen as aspirational to many in that trade and are a common and beloved hunter's charm, often featured as decoration or adornment on hunting gear. Those who hold the most belief in their ability to bestow luck in the hunt often honour them through leaving choice pieces of their catches in areas they frequent. In some settlements, often more remote regions that rely on hunting for subsistence, these dedicated offering spots consist of carved stumps or plinths and have been used for generations.
This species spends up to a decade as an aquatic nymph before transitioning to its adult form throughout the warmer months, where they will survive until the first frost. In warmer regions, it is not uncommon to see them year-round. They are well known for their intricate mating flights, where pairs will demonstrate their incredible speed and dexterity by flying tight spirals close to the water surface and around landmarks like reed clumps or stumps.
Hookhead dragonflies are widely predated upon both as larvae and adults, and will consume anything they can take down, including other insects, small fish and - as an adult, small mammals like shrews and mice. They possess a basal intelligence, enough to remember good hunting grounds and discern foe from prey, and as such are generally wary of large creatures and tend to keep their distance.
Dwarfing most of its relations, this dragonfly species has been observed in a wide variety of vivid colours and with a wingspan of up to 30cm, or 1 foot. It is easily identified both by its size, and the large hook-shaped prongs upon its head. It is unknown whether this unusual feature bestows any advantage to these dragonflies, or if it developed through sexual selection, but it is uniformly found across the species, despite some variation in the shape between populations.
They are extremely successful predators, with their incredible hunting prowess seen as aspirational to many in that trade and are a common and beloved hunter's charm, often featured as decoration or adornment on hunting gear. Those who hold the most belief in their ability to bestow luck in the hunt often honour them through leaving choice pieces of their catches in areas they frequent. In some settlements, often more remote regions that rely on hunting for subsistence, these dedicated offering spots consist of carved stumps or plinths and have been used for generations.
This species spends up to a decade as an aquatic nymph before transitioning to its adult form throughout the warmer months, where they will survive until the first frost. In warmer regions, it is not uncommon to see them year-round. They are well known for their intricate mating flights, where pairs will demonstrate their incredible speed and dexterity by flying tight spirals close to the water surface and around landmarks like reed clumps or stumps.
Hookhead dragonflies are widely predated upon both as larvae and adults, and will consume anything they can take down, including other insects, small fish and - as an adult, small mammals like shrews and mice. They possess a basal intelligence, enough to remember good hunting grounds and discern foe from prey, and as such are generally wary of large creatures and tend to keep their distance.