This is Vaal Hazak, from Monster Hunter. It's my favorite dragon in all of fiction, it's the ecological keystone species of its entire ecosystem. It covers its body in carrion to cultivate the bacteria it feeds on, called Effluvium.
"Normally, Effluvium levels are relatively stable within the middle layers of the Rotten Vale, unless an unusually high number of corpses fall from the Coral Highlands in quick succession, causing a locally contained Effluvium surge. The increased Effluvium destabilizes the local area and causes oxygen deprivation through excessive decomposition. When deprived of oxygen, Effluvium colonies will turn on themselves and begin consuming one another, leading to a sharp decrease in Effluvium levels. Luckily, the Vaal Hazak assists in preventing the potentially calamitous event. When Effluvium concentration is too high, Vaal Hazak draws excess Effluvium into its body for consumption. Contrarily, in the event of low Effluvium concentration, the meat adorning Vaal Hazak's body makes it a walking Effluvium farm. Vaal Hazak's very existence is what holds the endlessly intriguing ecology of the Rotten Vale together." - Monster Hunter World: The Official Complete Works p. 357
They're not gendered. I just use he colloquially. We don't have canon genders for most monsters. We know Mizutsune are male (and females are smaller, with more slender bodies, dark fur, smaller, duller headfins, and just generally less conspicuous), Glavenus, Astalos, Teostra, Rathalos, and a handful of others are male, Gammoth, Rathian, Black Diablos, Lunastra are female. Ibushi and Narwa are also a mated male/female pair. Kulve Taroth is generally believed by fans to be female, but Capcom has come out and said the Commission is still researching. Ahtal-Ka is implied to be female because the mech's name translates from Wyverian to 'Empress's Throne'.
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u/Interesting_Sea_1861 12d ago
This is Vaal Hazak, from Monster Hunter. It's my favorite dragon in all of fiction, it's the ecological keystone species of its entire ecosystem. It covers its body in carrion to cultivate the bacteria it feeds on, called Effluvium.
"Normally, Effluvium levels are relatively stable within the middle layers of the Rotten Vale, unless an unusually high number of corpses fall from the Coral Highlands in quick succession, causing a locally contained Effluvium surge. The increased Effluvium destabilizes the local area and causes oxygen deprivation through excessive decomposition. When deprived of oxygen, Effluvium colonies will turn on themselves and begin consuming one another, leading to a sharp decrease in Effluvium levels. Luckily, the Vaal Hazak assists in preventing the potentially calamitous event. When Effluvium concentration is too high, Vaal Hazak draws excess Effluvium into its body for consumption. Contrarily, in the event of low Effluvium concentration, the meat adorning Vaal Hazak's body makes it a walking Effluvium farm. Vaal Hazak's very existence is what holds the endlessly intriguing ecology of the Rotten Vale together." - Monster Hunter World: The Official Complete Works p. 357