Banshee Snakes

If it looks like a ferret, don't be deceived! The Banshee Snake is a different beast altogether: reclusive, not attracted to shiny items, and less likely to stink things up or they'd have a harder time hiding.

Image created in Copilot: This rendition does not reflect the overall length a Banshee Snake can reach (~1.7 m), nor the plethora of coloring that can be found in this species, with populations mostly appearing black with reflective yellow eyes, which helps them hide in dark spaces.

The Banshee Snake was first discovered in the early 3000's in mainland Afikaa. While genetic testing shows it is more closely related to the Platypus (which shows itself in their similarities as egg-laying mammals), the Banshee Snake is not venomous -- however it is poisonous when consumed by non-upgraded humans, and has proven deadly to even the hardiest of people.

Banshee Snakes tend to make their homes underground, favoring underground cities for their protection from radiation belts, along with easy access to the foods they prefer (algae and fungi, which are key resources for larger cities that rely on Organic Matter processing farms to provide sustenance).

Why are they called Banshee Snakes? These hapless creatures have no real protections aside from remaining hidden and being incredibly hard to hold as they use vestigial limbs to propel themselves under silky smooth (and water-repellent) fur. However, when confronted with a threat, they emit an ear-drum shattering scream that has been measured at well over 120 decibels, with a maximum recording of 218 decibels (louder than current-day rockets heading to space).

Banshee Snakes have unpredictable breeding cycles and a high mortality rate in their first three months of life. Some females lay clutches of eggs every month, while others have been documented to go decades without laying a single clutch, even with an abundance of males to use as fertilizer. Scientists postulate that the females will lay clutches "when they damn well please and not a moment sooner...or later", hypothesizing that these creatures mentally decide when and where to breed. It was learned in the late 4000's that Banshee Snakes also produce multiple offspring types to increase survival of at least one pup per clutch, with most females reserving at least a third of her clutch for clones of herself -- she survived, which gives her offspring a higher chance of survival as well. She is able to determine how many eggs are fertilized by each male she mates with. Banshee Snakes are communal creatures, however gathering places (outside of the occasional mating ball) have never been identified.

Banshee Snakes are popular pets among Juggernauts, often used in planting infiltration devices and even explosives. The y can be loving, but several Juggernaut handlers are deaf by the time their second Banshee Snakes are procured.

Banshee Snakes enjoy an uneven lifespan of ~50 years for females and ~5 years for males (although males with more stable chromosomes have been shown to live up to 20 years longer).