A small, rodent-like reptile native to the desert world of Morithe in the Conglomerate Exploration Zone. The Desert Katoo is characterised by its tough, segmented skin, arrow-shaped head and prehensile, whiskered snout. The creature is unusual among reptilian species in that it only births a single egg at a time, which it protects in a hardened pouch until hatching.
Close observation indicates that the Desert Katoo may be nocturnal, due to Morithe’s extreme daytime temperatures. The Desert Katoo typically buries beneath the sands to avoid the heat of the day, emerging at night to forage for food. The creature appears to be omnivorous, feeding on succulents and insects alike. It is unknown whether the Desert Katoo has any natural predators.
Zoologists of the Rentholme Expedition named the Desert Katoo based on its striking visual similarity to the mammalian Katoo, which is found on the plains of the coreworld Gil Tol. However, there is no evidence to indicate that the two species are in any way related.
The Desert Katoo has so far resisted domestication, due to its rapid burrowing speed and its defensiveness when young are threatened. However, the creature is prized by Morithe’s hotel operators, who profit from selling Katoo-hide clothing and accessories to guests. The eggs of the Desert Katoo are also considered a delicacy at the gourmet restaurants of these resorts. This has caused alarm among conservationists and animal rights campaigners, who are currently stretched thin due to the rapid expansion of the CEZ.
SEE ALSO:
Gil Tol [Planet]
Draik Rentholme [Personality]
Katoonog [Beverage]
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