Zygraat

Zygraats, more commonly known as spider hawks, were an unusual variety of creature that combined aspects of hawks and spiders.

Description
Zygraats largely resembled a bird of prey, such as a hawk, but had six legs. Their underbelly was like that of a spider and they also had a grey, spider-like abdomen. Inside their beaked mouths a series of tiny, hollow fangs ran along both ridges of their jaw.

Abilities
The spider-like abdomen of these creatures contained a milky fluid that coalesced into silky threads upon exposure to air. This allowed them to form large webs that were very strong, but not sticky. While perched they could project this thread as a stream directly at creatures from up to away, thereby trapping them, which is a tactic it often used when hunting away from its lair.

Their fangs were laced with a form of poison. Infants were incapable of flying or producing webbing, instead scurrying around on their legs.

Behavior
These creatures had a semi-level of intelligence. They had no interest in treasure or gems and would ignore shiny objects.

Combat
Zygraats tried to trap wandering prey in net-like barriers of their silk webbing and would then swoop down to bite them with their poisonous fangs.

Ecology
It was rare to encounter male specimens of this species, for female zygraats devoured them during the mating process. They laid around six to thirty six egg sacks.

Diet
Zygraats were a carnivorous species that preferred relatively small prey. A nesting zygraat often had a larder of fresh meat to feed their young.

Habitats
Zygraats were only known to be found in isolated forest regions. They laid their egg sacks in web-like nests built high atop trees or along rocky cliffsides. They sometimes used bits or clothing or other material when constructing their nests and would secure brightly colored bits of cloth to

Some could be found within the forests around the ruins of Myth Drannor. Beyond Toril, zygraats could be found in parts of the Tears of Selûne, having been brought there by gates or spelljammers originating from Toril.

Usages
The milky fluid within the abdomen of these creatures was prized as an alternative material component for the spell web that made the web produced by the spell harder for creatures to escape from. An abdomen contained enough fluid for three such uses. In addition, some creatures fashioned the webs of zygraats into robes.

Trivia
The spell flight of Remnis could summon a zygraat to the aid of its caster.