Creature:Nataak

Biology
Nataak are bipedal carnivorous reptiles with no known native home world. Their adaptations appear to be specialized for living in arid grasslands, mountains, and deserts, so their home world most likely hosted very large deserts. They are covered in scales that typically come in shades of red, gray, orange, and brown. Their heads sport rather hard head crests, two forward facing eyes with split pupils, and mouths filled with pointed serrated teeth. Nataak have five digits on their clawed hands, and three toes and on their scaly clawed feet.

Their musculature and bone structure appears to have evolved to take high impact damage from falls and heavy blows, though their scales are not strong enough to prevent horns and blades from piercing their hide. Because of this, Nataak tend to hunt prey who lack these weapons. Nataak are also sapient, though their intelligence heavily varies between each individual. Some Nataak are barely capable of reading and coherent speech, while others have become famous doctors and scientists. Nataak can live upwards of eighty years, though thanks to modern technology Nataak of high status can extend their life spans beyond one thousand years. This is not common however, as Nataak generally die in war or due to age related diseases due to extending their lifespans.

There is small evidence that suggests that the Nataak were genetically modified by a precursor race for the use of warfare, though it is not very concrete. It is more likely that the Nataak evolved independently from any genetic tampering.

Reproduction and Life Cycle
Nataak reproduce sexually between male and female individuals. Female Nataak lay eggs which gestate for about 10 weeks in a nest before hatching. Nataak hatchlings are mostly quadrupedal, and resemble small lizards. As they mature, their hips and pectoral muscles become more suited for bipedal life. Their soft head scales harden into a horned crest and their carnivorous teeth come in as well. Adolescent Nataak look a lot like the adults, though their head crests are not fully developed. After about 23 years of growth, Nataak are considered fully developed, though they are sexually mature at the age of 19.