
the species
Smart and powerful, Kahydrons (along with the Fututors,) are some of the most successful and widespread predatory animals on Snaiad. The defining characteristics of these creatures are their characteristic hoof-and-claw forelimbs and an innovative adaptation that gives them a hydraulic bite on their first-head jaws. Like most other Snaiadi “vertebrates,” Kahydrons have dual series of hydraulic muscles that serve to flex and move their backbones and first-head necks. These organs resemble interlocking chains of connected water balloons jacketed in tough protective cases of muscle, fat and gristle. In almost all other advanced “vertebrates,” these chains end at the base of the first-head. In Kahydrons, an offshoot of the hydraulic chain juts into the “cheek” region of the first head, enabling it to bite down with extreme pressure. As a result, Kahydrons can crack open bones, bite through their prey’s tough hydraulic muscles and defend themselves against other predators.
Kahydroniformes are a very diverse group and have macropredators, scavengers, omnivores, herbivores and even swimmers within their ranks. They are also some of the smartest creatures on Snaiad; Kahydrons have larger and tighter brain clusters in comparison to other animals their size, and some species can even hunt cooperatively.