snallyghaster's art!

sandwings in many ways represent the most "average" dragon in pyrrhia. not quite as bulky as seawings, icewings, and mudwings, and not quite as light and maneuverable as rainwings, nightwings, and skywings, sandwings have middling capabilities in the air and are generally the most comfortable on the ground. they possess some heavy plating, but have scaleless bellies that prevent overheating but also leave them vulnerable to attack from below. Their distinctive crests, running from their head to their tail, are covered with blood vessels and allow sandwings to regulate their temperature more easily. Their wings also contain blood vessels, unlike those of other dragons.

sandwings are well adapted to the scarcity and heat of the desert. they depend on nomadic prey herds and hunt by ambush, camouflaging themselves in the sand and waiting until their target is within striking distance of their tail. because these large herds are rare, sandwings retain fat readily and can go long periods without eating. however, their tails remain relatively fatless to ensure their maneuverability. Between large meals, they sustain themselves on lone prey such as lizards and occasionally even fresh carrion.

sandwing wings are optimized for idle gliding. they can spend hours in the air while expending very little energy, searching for live prey or carrion. Upon spotting live prey, a sandwing will typically land nearby and approach on foot, slowly approaching while blending in with the sand to avoid notice. sandwings can also fly for impressive distances, although their speed leaves much to be desired.

to avoid sand ending up in their nostrils, sandwing nostrils are situated atop their snout and can be closed and opened at will. their eyes are slitted; typically, their pupils remain very thin due to the sun and the glare of the desert, but their pupils can widen significantly in darker environments.