Probably one of the most successful video game franchises in recent years, Monster Hunter has always been a series that has captured the imagination of many people with its fantastical yet realistic creatures. From the scary Vaal Hazak to the goofy...
Throughout the western coast of South and Central America, one creature has captured the imagination of the people living there. Commonly referred to as the king of the sky, and the queen of the land, the Pyrorathus rex, or Rath as it's usually called, has truly left an impression on us.
These True Wyverns possess a wing span of 4.4 meters, and a body length of 3 meters, though males tend to be slightly larger than females who are 2.8 meters long, and have a 4 meter wingspan; however, size isn't the only thing that helps us distinguish males from females.
Male Raths, more commonly known as Rathalos, are much more colorful than their female counterparts, a feature used to attract the opposite gender.
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Thanks to their powerful chest muscles and broad wings, Rathalos are amazing flyers, able to make sharp turns in the air for quick repositioning and impressive acrobatic maneuvers. Flight also allows these apex predators to travel long distances in search of prey, and with the aid of their incredible eyesight, it's nearly impossible to avoid their gaze. When it comes to taking down food, Rathalos have an array of weapons at their disposal.
Their primary weapon is their powerful jaws and talons, and when combining this with an aerial dive, the impact is sometimes enough to kill their targets on impact; however, not all animals are so easily dispatched.
In cases where the animals are able to escape their grasp, Rathalos will inject their prey with a cytotoxic venom, but unlike other animals who use this type of toxin, these Wyverns will only use small amounts to cripple their targets, as opposed to releasing large quantities to aid in consumption since it's unnecessary.
This dangerous concoction is delivered by the hollow talons that are located on the first digit, or hallux, meaning that unless the Rathalos isn't able to get a good grasp with its hind limbs, the toxin is very likely to be injected.
If their targets are out of reach, Rathalos are able to expel a jet of fire from their mouths, making it possible to attack from afar or to cut off escape routes. When unleashing their fire breath, Raths grind their teeth together to create sparks before burping. The methane is then ignited, making it possible for them to spit flames.
However, this is only possible thanks to the rocks in the surrounding areas. By scraping their teeth against stones, minute flakes get stuck in the gaps between their fangs, giving them the last tool that's needed to incinerate their targets. Over generations, the scales around the Raths' face became much thicker, making it impossible to burn themselves when using their secret weapons. In addition to this, they also have a false palate to protect their internal organs from the heat produced by the flames.
But without a doubt, the Rathalos' deadliest weapon is their intelligence. They possess the ability to learn a target's strengths and weaknesses and then figure out how to exploit these.
Because of these tools, they're the undisputed rulers of the skies above Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, and the southern parts of Brazil; however, every king needs a queen, and the Raths are no different.
