Shadow Panther

The Shadow Panther is a fierce breed of reptilian Rahi created by Makuta Verahk.

Behaviour
Normaly solitary, Shadow Panthers come out of their lairs at dusk to hunt. As their names suggest, the Shadow Pather usually strikes from the darkest shadows, taking prey by suprise. They return to their lairs just before sunrise, as they prefer to stay out of the daylight as much as possible.

Being very solitary, Shadow Panthers are very territorial. They will attck virtually any creature they find invading their territory. Even other large predators, such a Muaka, know not to cross paths with a Shadow Panther.

Diet & Feeding Behaviour
The Shadow Panther's prefered prey is virtually any type of large, plant-eating Rahi. They have been known to take on creatures as large as Kane-Ra and Kikanalo, though they will also hunt smaller beasts, like Brakas Monkeys and Archives Moles.

After the Visorak invasion of Metru Nui, the city's Shadow Panthers seemed to have developed a taste for the spider creatures. Because of this, the Shadow Panthers became one of the few Rahi the Visorak truly feared. Wishing to steer clear of them, the Visorak left the Panthers' population intact.

Abilities & Tools
Shadow Panthers are, pound-for-pound, far more powerful than their main competetors, the Muaka cats. They are strong enough to single-handedly bring down large prey, and pin it to the ground long enough to finish it off. They are also very stealthy, able to sneak up on even the most alert of prey.

They are also unusually intellegent.

Panthers possess very power jaws, which are filled with razor-sharp teeth. Two of these teeth are very long and saber-like. They also wield very sharp claws.

Mutant Shadow Panthers
Recently, Makuta Verahk altered a number of Shadow Pathers and brought them to Karda Nui. They were altered so they could carry extra Tridax Pods. They also gained the ability to fire shadow bolts from their eyes. They act as guards to Verahk's temporary base in the Universe Core. Being nocturnal, Verahk's Shadow Panthers are esspecially fearsome, due to being forced to operate in such a light-filled area.

A number of them have escaped Verahk's lair, and have made their way down to the Swamp of Secrets.

Range
While noth the most common of Rahi, Shadow Panther have been known to live on a number of different islands.

Metru Nui - Shadow Panthers in the City of Legends are most common in Po-Metru and Ko-Metru. They have also been sighted in the lowest levels of the Onu-Metru Archives (where the near-pitch darkness overs wonderful comoflauge for hunting), and among the tangled chute and cables of Le-Metru (where the Panther's exellent climbing skills allow it to chase the many virities of flying and climbing Rahi who make their homes there).

Unlike most of Metru Nui's Rahi, most of the city's Panthers were spaired by the Visorak, due to the Panthers aquiring a taste for the spiders.

Mata Nui - After the Great Catyclism, a few Shadow Panthers made their way up to Mata Nui, where they usually lived in Po-Wahi and Le-Wahi.

Zakaz - Shadow Panthers here where once very common. However, due to the great damage done to Zakaz by the warring Skakdi, many of the island's Panthers have been killed. Those who survived, however, have became especially visious. It also seems the Panthers have developed a taste for Skakdi.

Daxia - Shadow Pathers are some of the few Rahi known to live on the island of Daxia. They are the main competetors of the Shallows Cat.

Odina - The Shadow Panther is of the few Rahi known to live on the island of the Dark Hunters.

Voya Nui - Voya Nui's Shadow Panthers lived mainly in the Green Belt of trees, one of the few lush areas on the island. It is unlikly that the Panthers survived the island's trip back to the Southern Continent.

Karda Nui - While not native, a number of mutated Shadow Panthers have recently been brought to the Universe Core by Makuta Verahk. They act as guards for his temp. base. A few have escaped his lair and have made their way down to the Swamp of Serets.

Trivia

 * The Shadow Panther's design was mainly influenced by the Komodo Dragon and the big cats of reality. Its behaviour and characteristics were inspired by the Jaguar and, to a lesser extent, the Future Predator. The latter is a fictional creature from the British television series Primeval.