Tingto
A Tingto is a species native to Tarati that resides primarily in ice caves and swamps.
| Tingto | |
|---|---|
| Location | Tarati |
| Diet | Spomes, crystals |
| Habitat | Swamps and Caves |
The tingto is a floating crystalline creature that inhabits Tarati.
Physiology
The nervous and digestive system of the tingto is organic, but the outer flesh and skin is composed of hard crystals. The crystal outer layer is grown over time using the anaerobic crystallization of proteins through its normal digestion process. These crystals are normally blue in colour, although subspecies of tingto feature in other colours and crystal types. The properties of these crystals often include levitation and luminescence, which wears off over time. The reason behind these effects is unknown and commonly passed off as magic. The crystal outer shell of a tingto is brittle and will shatter easily under pressure.
Ecology
The tingto feeds primarily on spomes and crystalline deposits in caves. It is thought that this gives them their rock-like appearance and the ability to fly. Tingto are shy but cannot move very fast. They are most active during the night. The tingto has no major predators, although toki will often hunt the creatures for cosmetic reasons. The Kiladako spent several years studying the tingto in depth. After figuring out their complicated reproductive process, the Kiladako realized that they could utilize this as a business venture. One tingto farm was built in southern Tarati, and for several months it exported out glowing levitation crystals to the galactic market. After the war this farm was completely destroyed, although several tingto specimens were preserved and stored in extraterrestrial laboratories.
Appearance
Tingto skin is hard and semi-transparent, giving the appearance of blue glass. They emit a faint glow which is only visible in total darkness.
Behaviour
The Tingto is nocturnal and is rarely seen during the day. During the night they appear alone or in swarms, glowing faintly in the darkness. They levitate just above the ground and are mostly harmless. Tingto are delicate and will explode violently under force, sending shards flying at unfortunate bystanders. The iridescent shards are beautiful, and valuable, and are often seen sold at local markets.
Tingto sleep in caves at night. There have been reported anomalies of Tingto being active during the day. Such cases are rare and may occur during an eclipse. In even rarer cases, the sunlight refracting through a Tingto's body will set nearby plants on fire.
Tingto are said to emit a quiet, high-pitched hum or the sound of chimes as they move through the air.