Striginyx

Ventitherios is a large Scelidian monster and close relative to the horned Cerambus and Tarrustah.

Physiology
Ventitherios are heavily built Scelidians with the body shape similar to its close relatives. They have a light blue hide and a large head covered in a keratinous sheath, there head is very reminiscent of a Pachyrhinosaurus. Its skull posses are large and flat frill but unlike its relatives Cerambus and Tarrustah, it lacks any brow horns, only possessing pronghorn-like antlers on its frill and a hollow nose boss. The tail of Ventitherios is short and stocky. The front legs of Ventitherios are higher than the rear ones raising its head higher than its relatives.

Behavior
Ventitherios are generally docile and reclusive animals when left alone, but when surrounded or cornered by large groups of animals or faced with predators, they are known to become rather hostile. Although compared to its close relatives it prefers to flee from conflict when ever it is possible to do so, unless however it is in the company of its young, which it will defend with its life.

Placement on the Food Chain
Being a large and powerful herbivore, Ventitherios has few predators capable of hunting it. This allows to occupy a high spot on the food chain despite being an herbivore.

Behavior towards other Monsters
Ventitherios will let herbivorous small monsters be in the same area as it, but carnivorous will be threatened away if they wander too close. Ventitherios will also attack other large monsters if it is provoked by them but is known to back down and flee if the monster proves to be more than a match for it.

Tracks
Ventitherios is known to leave behind many forms of tracks that hunters can use to track it. These tracks are "Frozen Mucus", "Round Print", and "Cyan Scales".

Specific Locale Interactions
No special locale interactions.

Special Behaviors
No special behaviors.

Abilities
Ventitherios have a thick, fatty scale covered hide that protects them from the biting cold and from predators. Ventitherios are capable of "sneezing" a extremely cold fluid from their nasal boss as a form of self defense. They are also capable of using their massive skulls to violently ram into threats such utilizing their bulk to deal large amounts of damage.

Rage and Tired States

 * Rage State: Ventherios frill will become encased in ice and will begin huffing steam from its nostrils. Its attacks will become a lot more relentless when it is in this state.
 * Tired State: Ventitherios will fail to use its elemental attacks and will begin to droll.

Frenzy, Apex, Hyper and Tempered
Ventitherios can be affected by the Frenzy Virus and become Frenzied, it is however unknown if Apex Ventitherios exist.

When it becomes Frenzied, Ventitherios will no longer act docile and reclusive but instead they will attack anything near to them with fearsome ferocity, otherwise it has the usual changes of a Frenzied monster.

Mounts
Ventitherios have the same mount animation as Cerambus and Tarrustah and can be mounted on its head and its back. Attacking its head deals less damage when mounted.

Taxonomy

 * Order: Ornithoscelida
 * Suborder: Marginocephalia
 * Infraorder: Thick Nose
 * Family: Ventitherios

Habitat Range
Ventitherios are known to inhabit the Glacial Ruins of the new world.

Ecological Niche
Ventitherios are large and heavily built herbivorous monsters that roam the frozen environments of the new world in search of roots, tubers and bark to feed on. Due to their large size they are rarely attacked by small monsters like Baggi and Wrendingos and are quite capable of fending of larger predators like Zamtrios. The only predators that regularly attempt to hunt Ventitherios is the large brute wyvern Giaorugu and the flying wyvern Barioth. Ventitherios shares it niche with the larger fanged beast Gammoth and as such there is a sort of ecological competition between the two herbivores.

Biological Adaptations
Ventitherios have evolved thick fatty hides that protect and insulate them from the cold weather that the live with. Their frills are capable of pulling nitrogen from their air that their bodies process into a supercooled fluid that is stored in the nasal boss.

Behavior
Ventitherios are typically docile and reclusive creatures that only violently attack when startled and or threatened.

Breakable Parts & Damage Effectiveness

 * Head (x2)
 * Right Foreleg (x1)
 * Left Foreleg (x1)
 * Right Hindleg (x1)
 * Left Hindleg (x1)
 * Tail (Severable)

Physical Damage Effectiveness

 * Head = ★ cutting, ★★ impact, ★★ shot
 * Body = ★★★ cutting, ★★ impact, ★★ shot
 * Forelegs = ★ cutting, ★ impact, ★★ shot
 * Hindlegs = ★★ cutting, ★ impact, ★★★ shot
 * Tail = ★★★ cutting, ★★★ impact, ★★★ shot

Element Effectiveness

 * Fire = ★★★
 * Water = ★
 * Thunder = ★★
 * Ice = ✖
 * Dragon = ★
 * Earth = ★★★
 * Wind = ★

Status Effectiveness

 * Poison = ★★
 * Sleep = ★★★
 * Paralysis = ★
 * Blast = ★★
 * Stun = ✖

Shiny Item Drops

 * Wyvern Tear, Ventitherios Scale (Low Rank)
 * Large Wyvern Tear, Ventitherios Scale+ (High Rank)

Slinger Ammo
Ventitherios can drop Thorn Pods when sufficiently damaged.