Avatar:Gilacorn
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<infobox theme-source="nation"> <image source="image" /> <title source="name"><default>Gilacorn</default></title> <group> <header>General information</header> <label>Habitat</label> <label>Status</label> <label>Bending</label> <label>Uses</label> </group> <group> <header>Chronological information</header> <label>First appearance</label> <label>Last appearance</label> <label>Voiced by</label> </group> <header></header> </infobox> The gilacorn is a small, poisonous, lizard-like creature that scavenges the Si Wong Desert, looking for food. Many years in the past, giant gilacorns were alive and posed a threat to a tribe living in the area at that time, the beetle-headed merchants.[1] However, only the diminutive version of this creature was alive in 100 AG.
History
According to old legends, the subterranean ancestors of the beetle-headed merchants, the first humans living in the Si Wong Desert were constantly attacked by giant gilacorns until they mimicked the appearance of sour beetles, the only creatures on the desert floor not palatable to gilacorns.[1] However, these giant gilacorns were extinct by 100 AG.[1][2]
In the Si Wong Desert, one gilacorn stole an egg that Appa attempted to eat. After finding an egg in a nest, the flying bison was ambushed by the creature, who snatched the egg and quickly retreated, holding the egg over its head.[3]
Anatomy
Long before Aang's time, giant gilacorns were equipped with deadly unicorn horns.[2]
Among the modern, small gilacorns, unicorn horns grow on some, but not all members of the species.[3][4][5] Otherwise, the small gilacorns have petite bodies which are colored brown-black-white. Though usually moving on all fours, they can run a short distance on their back legs like a mongoose lizard and reach high speeds. They are also rather strong, able to carry food sources almost as big as themselves.[3][4] The species is poisonous.[2]
Behavior
Known to be the nanny-goats of the desert, gilacorns will eat anything except sour beetles.[2] They create small burrows and often lie in wait under the hot desert sand, waiting for feeding opportunities. Gilacorns are not good hunters, but they excel as scavengers by running at and quickly grabbing any potential morsel of food they discover.[4]
Trivia
- Part of the namesake of the gilacorn is the gila monster. Unlike its real-world counterpart, the gilacorn is somewhat smaller and faster.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nick.com (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Nick.com (archived)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 1, Episode 216
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures From Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, page 102.
- ↑ Avatar: The Last Airbender (Magic: The Gathering), "Gilacorn" card (default version).