Hastators - Snaiad

A Snaiad fan-created, non-canonical concept.

Hastators are medium sized, dinosaur-looking, predatory animals. They are currently considered the sister group of pescidonts, since they follow a similar body plan, but new molecular analyses indicate that the resemblance may be due to convergent evolution rather than phylogenetic closeness. Hastators move on two long, muscular legs, and can reach speeds of well over 100 kms/h, making them the fastest creatures on Snaiad. Forearms are reduced to small, one-clawed stumps. First head's "beak" is characteristic in that it's twisted upwards (which is why they're also commonly known as "look-uppers"). The most remarkable feature of hastators is their highly derived spear-shaped second "head". Hastators use them for hunting - they innoculate a poweful toxin to large-sized creatures. This toxin is secreted by a gland localized in the basis of the "head", along with a strong digestive enzyme, which liquifies its prey's innards. When the prey is dead, hastators simply sip the liquified remains through a small mouth opening near the tip of the second "head".

Snaiad belongs to Nemo Ramjet (C. M. Kosemen).