Sand Hen

The Sand Hen is a dangerous amphibious Rahi bird.

History
The Sand Hens were created by Makuta Darkraxx, as peaceful Rahi which could help Matoran. Unfortunately, at the time of the Great Cataclysm a disease spread through the species, transforming most of them into savage carnivores. They escaped and now inhabit coastal areas in the Southern Continent.

Abilities
These birds of prey cannot fly, but they spend most of their lives in water. When they swim out in the open water, their pale blue belly cannot be seen easily against the water's surface when you look up at them from underwater, but, looking down on them, their backs are black and dark blue and they are hidden against the deeper, darker water below.

Sand hens live in the deep sea, in small caves, and down here they dig into the seabed and ambush passing fish. Sometimes they swim out in the open and chase prey down-this behaviour, however is very rare. They also sometimes swim in shallow, coastal areas to hunt, and when they see prey on beaches, they climb out of the water and burrow into the sand. The rely on their senses of smell and hearing to find their prey-Matoran or small Rahi, usually-as they tunnel towards it. They then tunnel up from below, grab their victim and drag it back down to the sea to kill it and eat it. Sand Hens are greatly feared by Matoran, particularly Ga-Matoran, although some are still tame and cause no harm to Matoran of any kind.

Trivia
Sand Hens are thought to be quite rare, however they may be more common than they are believed to be due to the fact that wild ones are hardly ever seen.

The way in which a Sand Hen camouflages itself while swimming out in open water was inspired by the Great White Shark.