Disclaimer: What? Pokemon belongs to Nintendo? Oh darn.
Common Name: Skarmory, Airmd
Scientific Name: Armatuavis sanguineus
Description: Skarmory is a fairly large, flying reptile, measuring 7 feet long, standing 4 ½ feet tall, and with a 16 ½ -foot wingspan. They are unusual in that they do not achieve flight by using a third set of limbs, but rather have modified their front limbs into wings like a Zubat's. However, Skarmory wings are not the same in structure as those of the similar-appearing Aerodactyl, which had a wing held taut by a single wing strut, actually a modified finger. Rather, Skarmory have four wing struts, with membranes between them. However, unlike as in Zubat, Skarmory's wing membranes do not connect to the leading edges of the wing struts' tips. Rather, they connect to the trailing edges of the tips, then to the third joint of the next wing strut. The effect of this is to give the wings a serrated edge.
Skarmory are plated by thick, leathery armor, with visible segments on the neck and long legs. Skarmory have a broad shield on the head topped with a hollow, triangular bone crest. Skarmory's tail is stiff and rudderlike, slender and flattened laterally, with a bottom flange. They have three toes, one pointed backward. Skarmory have a long, sharp bill, with pointed teeth set into the lower jaw.
Skarmory's eyes have yellow sclera, and deep blue irises, a coloration that gives the pokemon a slightly crazed expression. Skarmory's body can be any of several shades of gray (the Kanjoh subspecies has a bluish tint), with darker gray on the neck, legs, and tail. The wing membranes behind the second finger are blood red in color.
Range: Skarmory are naturally found in two separate populations, which have been genetically distinct for at least a hundred thousand years. The first is found in the Kanjoh area, and the second is endemic to Hoenn's uplands. There is also a Sevii Island population, found only on Quest Island, which is genetically similar to the Hoenn population, and likely blew over in a storm. Kanjoh-type Skarmory have also been introduced to Sinnoh's Northeastern Island.
Habitat: Skarmory live in high country, favoring plateaus, mountain ranges, and ridgetops. They often nest in bramble thickets.
Call: When nesting, Skarmory sing a tinkling, high warble. When aggravated, they shriek gratingly.
Diet: Skarmory are obligate carnivores, dining on a variety of smaller pokemon. Their main food sources are Sandshrew in Hoenn, and Geodude in Johto. Meowth and Numel make up important parts of their diets in the Sevii Islands and the Northeastern Island, respectively.
Skarmory are quite bold in their pursuit of prey, and mated pairs will often work together, one distracting a protective mother Ursaring, while the other goes for the exposed young. This technique is also used against Tyranitar and Donphan.
Skarmory will also readily scavenge, and follow large hunters such as Groudon and Entei, to feed on their leftovers. Small hunters such as Persian may even be chased away from their kill, but even a Skarmory knows better than to pester a Groudon!
Life Cycle: Skarmory form mated pairs in early spring, and nest together on high cliffs. Mated pairs often stay together for several years, and some stay paired for life.
Skarmory are well-known for using bramble thickets for shelter and nesting material, which protects their eggs and chicks from most predators. They themselves are born with thick enough skin that the brambles are no more than a mild irritation. The hatchlings also have a coating of fluffy down, which soon scratches off. This feature caused Skarmory to be classified for a long time as birds.
Skarmory hunt together to feed 2-4 chicks, and are very territorial both towards other Skarmory and to any sort of predator. Young fledge in 5 months, but take longer to reach sexual maturity.
Skarmory are long lived, and may survive 50 years or more.
Relationship with Humans: Skarmory, due to their aggressive behavior and striking red wings, were often vilified by early peoples. Their tendency to kill captive Mareep did not help this impression, and they were exterminated from many areas. There was also demand for their thick hide for tanning, and Skarmory leather was for many years very valuable. The battle trade has prevented their populations from rebounding, but they seem to have stabilized. They are not yet considered endangered, and are doing well where they were introduced in the Northeastern Island.
Naturalist's Notes: Skarmory have a distinctive aggressive display, crouching and displaying the bright red on its wings. If you see this display, back off! You may be near a nest, and Skarmory are vicious in protection of their nests, to the point that many areas are closed to the public during Skarmory nesting season.
A/N: I tried out making Skarmory a bird… but I couldn't get the body shapes to work. So, it's a Wyvern-like reptile instead. Go figure.