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Description
The Varian Blood Snakes are a unique family of Reptilids that have adapted to feed off the blood of other animals. There are two familys of Blood Snake, parasitic Blood Snakes, and Hunting Blood Snakes. The parasitic species are just that, parasites that often are tiny, in fact they are the smallest vertebrates on the whole of Varian III. The smallest measure no more than half an inch in length. Often parasitic Blood Snakes have more cartilage in their bodies than bone, the reason being that at their size they have no need for heavy bone to support their bodies. their vertebrae are bone as is most of the skull. The small psudo-limbs that sprout down the sides of the body are cartilage in structure but composed of a robust form to maintain strength as they hold on to the fur or skin of their host. The tips of these limbs are end in sharp claws used to anchor the Blood Snake firmly as it feeds. All Blood Snakes have a venom that is used to 1) keep the flow of blood moving, and 2) to numb the skin and flesh of the feeding site. Their jaws are fused into a long tubular mouth with only the very tip mobile. The end of the mouth looks very beak like, yet these are the only remaining teeth blood snakes have. The venom is injected via a bite inflicted by these teeth, then it uses them to make a small hole where it then inserts a highly modified tongue which has a sharp tip and is hollow into the wound. The tongue is a direct continuation of the esophagus and is split from the windpipe to allow uninterrupted feeding and the ability to breath while feeding. The nostrils are located close to the eyes, allowing ease of breathing while feeding.

Parasitic Blood Snakes are one of the more common parasites found on Varian animals. They breed prolifically, by live birth which gives them advantages in this life style. The hunting Blood Snakes are much larger and as their name implies, hunt for their blood meals. All are nocturnal, seeking out slumbering animals which they sneak up on and bite, using their paralytic venom to subdue their prey. Once the animal has been secured and immobilized the Blood Snake wraps it's coils around it's prey and slowly over several hours drains it of all it's blood. the snake will slowly constrict the body starting from the point farthest from where it is feeding to force as much blood out of it's now dead prey. Once satiated the Snake drops the body, and moves on to a safe place to rest. Hunting Blood Snakes are one of the very few predators that will actively hunt Skunk Sloths. These pungent little leaf eaters have very few worries because of the noxious smell that is created by glands in the skin. Because of this, they are very slow creatures that make an easy meal for an animal that has no true sense of smell. All Blood Snakes use a combination of heat sense, eyesight, and scent to find their food. Though scent is a very important factor in the search for prey the odor of the Skunk Sloth seems to have no effect on them.

Most Hunting Blood Snakes have limbless serpentine bodies that aid them in their search for prey in holes and borrows, though a few primitive species still have fully mobile pseudo-limbs just like their parasite kin. they use these in much they same manor as the smaller species. Hunting blood snakes give birth to live young as well but that is the extent of their care for their offspring. as soon as the are born the young Blood Snakes move off the hide and feed upon yolk sacks that are retained in their stomachs. Once this has been used up the young animals go off to find their first blood meal.

Description
The Varian Blood Snakes are a unique family of Reptilids that have adapted to feed off the blood of other animals. There are two familys of Blood Snake, parasitic Blood Snakes, and Hunting Blood Snakes. The parasitic species are just that, parasites that often are tiny, in fact they are the smallest vertebrates on the whole of Varian III. The smallest measure no more than half an inch in length. Often parasitic Blood Snakes have more cartilage in their bodies than bone, the reason being that at their size they have no need for heavy bone to support their bodies. their vertebrae are bone as is most of the skull. The small psudo-limbs that sprout down the sides of the body are cartilage in structure but composed of a robust form to maintain strength as they hold on to the fur or skin of their host. The tips of these limbs are end in sharp claws used to anchor the Blood Snake firmly as it feeds. All Blood Snakes have a venom that is used to 1) keep the flow of blood moving, and 2) to numb the skin and flesh of the feeding site. Their jaws are fused into a long tubular mouth with only the very tip mobile. The end of the mouth looks very beak like, yet these are the only remaining teeth blood snakes have. The venom is injected via a bite inflicted by these teeth, then it uses them to make a small hole where it then inserts a highly modified tongue which has a sharp tip and is hollow into the wound. The tongue is a direct continuation of the esophagus and is split from the windpipe to allow uninterrupted feeding and the ability to breath while feeding. The nostrils are located close to the eyes, allowing ease of breathing while feeding.

Parasitic Blood Snakes are one of the more common parasites found on Varian animals. They breed prolifically, by live birth which gives them advantages in this life style. The hunting Blood Snakes are much larger and as their name implies, hunt for their blood meals. All are nocturnal, seeking out slumbering animals which they sneak up on and bite, using their paralytic venom to subdue their prey. Once the animal has been secured and immobilized the Blood Snake wraps it's coils around it's prey and slowly over several hours drains it of all it's blood. the snake will slowly constrict the body starting from the point farthest from where it is feeding to force as much blood out of it's now dead prey. Once satiated the Snake drops the body, and moves on to a safe place to rest. Hunting Blood Snakes are one of the very few predators that will actively hunt Skunk Sloths. These pungent little leaf eaters have very few worries because of the noxious smell that is created by glands in the skin. Because of this, they are very slow creatures that make an easy meal for an animal that has no true sense of smell. All Blood Snakes use a combination of heat sense, eyesight, and scent to find their food. Though scent is a very important factor in the search for prey the odor of the Skunk Sloth seems to have no effect on them.

Most Hunting Blood Snakes have limbless serpentine bodies that aid them in their search for prey in holes and borrows, though a few primitive species still have fully mobile pseudo-limbs just like their parasite kin. they use these in much they same manor as the smaller species. Hunting blood snakes give birth to live young as well but that is the extent of their care for their offspring. as soon as the are born the young Blood Snakes move off the hide and feed upon yolk sacks that are retained in their stomachs. Once this has been used up the young animals go off to find their first blood meal.