Gourdtails and Sackthroats

Throughout the year, the redgrass biome of Kuraccao is graced with the low, bellowing calls of two of the continent's largest creatures, the massive Kuraccaonian eutitanotheres known as the Gourdtail and Sackthroat. These massive herbivores are distinguished from Kuraccao's other eutitanotherids by their unusually thick, powerful necks, bizarrely-shaped tails, and massive, inflatable throat-sacks and are a common sight on the plains.

Gourdtail

The Gourdtail, named for its large, bulbous tail base, is the larger of the two, dwarfing its Sackthroat relatives and most other eutitanotherids. It is exceeded in size only by the gargantuan Behemoth (Behemoth behemoth) and grows to immense heights, towering over the landscape like a walking skyscraper. Gourdtails resemble Earth giraffes and Brachiosaurs in their stature, bearing an immense, vertically-oriented neck for browsing the tallest treetops. They have an insanely large, powerful heart to pump blood up their neck and similarly gigantic lungs. Gourdtails emit low, continuous vocalizations that can be best described as a form of eerily melodic moaning. They have small eyes and must frequently vocalize to keep in touch with their herd members, the herds generally consisting of a single mature male and 3-4 females. Females and males attain similar sizes, the males being distinguished via their brighter throat-sacks and longer quills atop their head.

Gourdtails are slower-growing and longer-lived than most other eutitanotherids. Their massive, bulbous tails taper into a long, thin whip, tipped with a small, hardened bulb. This is a deadly weapon, and in a decently-sized individual it can deter all but the most determined of predators, which are virtually nonexistent in a mature adult. The whip is pale with red bands, this coloring is thought to (a) help communicate with other Gourdtails as the bright colors attract their attention and (b) serve as a warning to predators.

These massive creatures are often accompanied by Sackthroats, who seek shelter amongst the ranks of their larger relatives. Most Gourdtail deaths occur very early in life, when they are easy prey. This death rate slows considerably once they are half-grown, though a pair of large Simmerjaws was documented taking down a smaller subadult after a several-hour struggle which resulted in the unfortunate Gourdtail bleeding to death. Adult Gourdtails are virtually invincible but must constantly move in search of food. They are prone to infections in their feet resulting from injuries sustained during their long journeys, this can be life-threatening in older, sickened individuals.

Sackthroat

Though dwarfed by the Gourdtails, Kuraccao's flamboyant Sackthroat Titans are still awe-inspiring creatures. They are proportionally sturdier than the Gourdtail, with a shorter neck and a thicker, heavier build. They have large osteoderms on the neck and back and smaller ones scattered throughout the body. Their tails are short and thick, with large quills protruding from the top. Unlike the display-oriented quills of the Gourdtail these serve as a defense mechanism, preventing predators from attacking their rear. Sackthroats bear an immense throat-sack capable of producing deep, low humming vocalizations that can sound for miles. They use these to communicate amongst each other much like the Gourdtail, and the throat-sack's bright colors can be used to startle predators and intimidate rivals. Sackthroats have a pair of drooping jowl-like structures and a small head crest, these being vestigial from their ancestors who relied more on visual displays.

Sackthroats occupy a more generalist role than their relatives, feeding on a wide range of vegetation. They live in large, closely-knit herds of 20-30 members, mostly female with only one breeding male. Multiple males can be part of a herd, but subordinates are not allowed to breed and are ruthlessly attacked if they attempt to do so. Due to their smaller stature, Sackthroats are more susceptible to predation than the immense Gourdtails. Their chief enemies are the ferocious Simmerjaws, 20-meter psofidiabolids who often hunt in mated pairs and are more than capable of taking down a lone Sackthroat. Simmerjaws have learned to bite the throat-sacks of their prey to prevent them from calling for help, a useful adaptation for hunting their social and vocally-oriented prey. Due to the strains of predators, Sackthroats have, as previously stated, evolved huge osteoderms and defensive tail-quills. Younger, inexperienced Simmerjaws often have a quill or two protruding from their face as a result of a failed attack on a Sackthroat herd.