Avatar:Catgator

 

<infobox theme-source="nation"> <image source="image" /> <title source="name"><default>Catgator</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>Image gallery (0)</header> </infobox> The catgator is an animal that resides in the Foggy Swamp. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is a fairly popular pet in the Earth Kingdom and the Foggy Swamp Tribe.

History

When Team Avatar crashed in the swamp, one catgator tried to eat Momo, but was instead scared off by Appa. Sokka later attempted to feed another catgator, named Slim, who was domesticated by members of the Foggy Swamp Tribe.

In 171 AG, Avatar Korra and Jinora were swallowed whole by a giant catgator shortly after the pair entered the Spirit World, causing the two to fall into a spiraling river which subsequently separated them from one another.

Anatomy

Catgators are about seven or eight feet long.

The catgator is a large, dark green reptile that is about seven or eight feet long from snout to tail. It is a squat, short creature and moves with its body close to the ground. Its back is lined with ridges, and it has a flat head with barbel whiskers coming from the snout. The catgator's mouth itself is lined with sharp teeth, and its tail has a small fin at the end.

Apart from lacking barbel whiskers and being slightly brighter green in appearance, catgator spirits retain similar physical characteristics as their swamp counterparts. In addition to this, spirit catgators are capable of growing to far more gargantuan sizes, similar to an elephant koi. They also have certain spiritual abilities, such as transporting the humans that they swallow into other parts of the Spirit World.

Behavior

Although catgators may appear to be ferocious creatures, they are kept as pets in the Foggy Swamp.

Catgators are the bottom-feeders of the swamp. Although they appear to be ferocious animals, they are actually docile toward humans. To most people, catgators are considered extremely revolting creatures, but to some of Earth Kingdom and the Foggy Swamp Tribe natives, they are lovable pets and are given names such as Slim and Derby.

Most catgators will eat anything in their vicinity, save for the large insects which inhabit the swamp. Their feeding habits contribute to their popularity as pets, as they tend to keep areas clean of pests. Conversely, some catgators such as Slim are very picky eaters.

Connection

The catgator appears to be a hybrid of a catfish and an alligator, and it exhibits physical characteristics of both of these animals.

Trivia

• After the Hundred Year War, a pro-bending team named itself the Capital City Catgators.
• Varrick has a catgator deck aboard his battleship, the Zhu Li.
• The creature has a counterpart in the Spirit World, the catgator spirit, which lives in aquatic regions.
• A catgator was seen on Swamp Skiin' Throwdown, the second of the Super Deformed Shorts.
• Catgator teeth are used as a medicinal ingredient.

See also

• Fauna in the World of Avatar
• Foggy Swamp
• Slim