The phidian are small semi-aquatic creatures that resemble a bird to some degree. The creature's two legs are long, adorned with huge claws, designed to rend flesh. Their bodies are narrow, scaled on the underside, but covered in thick fur above. They have a short neck adorned with a huge head. The head, including the phidian's jaws, is actually one large hairless bone; this bone is so thick that it is very difficult to penetrate with a weapon. There are no teeth or fangs of any kind, but rather the very bone of the jaw. The creature's deep-set eyes are covered by boney apertures, protecting them from harm. The phidian are dark colors, shades of black, gray, even green, or blue.
Aggressive. The phidian are very aggressive, predatory creatures. They travel in small pods of 1-6, throughout all the temperate zones of Aihrde. They prefer thick forests or jungles but dwell on the banks of slow-moving rivers, lakes, and the like. These creatures are particularly aggressive and do not shy away from attack prey many times larger than themselves. When it attacks it lifts its head, rather than lowering its jaw, opening the span of its jaw as wide as it can. When it 'bites' it drops the upper jaw, which falls like a steel trap, crushing its prey. They generally do not use their claws as weapons, but rather use them to tear through the armor plating of their favorite meal, turtles. Ironically, this allows them to rend through armor as well.
Territorial. The phidian usually mark out a territory in which they hunt. They range in style from lying half-submerged in water, to stalking and chasing their prey. When they single out their prey, they attack, though rarely as a group. Individual phidian attack different targets.