[Species] Poison Leopards

[TheBlackSoul]

The poison leopards are a species of big cat who are-as their name suggests-poisonous.

Outwardly, they resemble black leopards with white colored spots. Sometimes they'll have a small mane. The typical size of a poison leopard is slightly larger than a siberian tiger. The typical eye color is grey or green, rarely they'll be orange. The pupils are slitted.

Poison leopards get their name from their poisonous breath and claws. The leopards release the poison on their breath from two venom glands near the back of their throat. These are closed most of the time, but when a poison leopard wishes to release the venom, they open up, and the droplets are carried upon the leopard's breath and come out of their mouths as a slightly green mist.
The claws are diffrent. They inject venom much in the same way a rattlesnake's fangs do-a venom gland in their paws, again closed most of the time, feeds a tube which channels the venom through a groove in the claw, which then injects the venom into a victim when the leopard successfully slashes the victim. Like all felines, the claws can be retracted when not in use.
The venom is a neurotoxin-it can cause anything from nausea to paralysis or death, depending on the amount injected.

Poison leapards are quite cunning. If they can't take down a prey item or enemy by brute force, they often switch to leading them into traps. It's not incommon for a pair of leopards to work together to accomplish such a goal.

The diet of a poison leopard is made up of mostly hoofed mammals (e.g horses), but they'll enjoy the occasionsial bird or reptile, and sometimes they'll try to steal eggs or chicks from dragon nests. They typically leave humanoids alone.

Poison leopards have no natural enemies, seeing as their flesh is poisonous to eat. However, they wisely avoid adult dragons, and typically retreat if they see a foe that is stronger than they are. However, their venom is valued for dipping arrows in to make them poisonous, and are often saught out by big-game hunters.

Poison leopards lead a solitary life most of the time, but when they mate, the male and female leopards work together to raise the cubs. A typical female gives birth to about 2-6 cubs.
Poison leopards age slowly. It takes about 20-25 years for a poison leopard to reach sexual maturity, and they breed only once a year. As a result, the leopards are rare.