Kutcax

Kutcax (family deinonettidae) are a family of duck descended from Mallards. They are found throughout the Mississippi wetlands. The word Kutcax comes from the Chitimacha words "Ku", meaning water, and "Tcax", meaning bird.

Biology

Kutcax measure in at about 6 feet in height and a wingspan of 5 feet. They weigh in at about 90 pounds. They have a thick, long neck and a wide body to match. In males, their plumage is green, white, and a slight hint of pink. Females have brown and white plumage.

Kutcax are completely flightless. They have very small wings that are only used to help them keep balance while wading through the marshes. Their wide, webbed feet also keep them from sinking into the mud and losing balance. Their ankles have a large spur jutting out so that the Kutcax can defend itself from predators such as Alligators.

Their diet consists almost entirely of aquatic plants, mostly floating plants like duckweed. While eating, they may accidently swallow pink triops, leading to a pink tinge in their feathers. Kutcax have wide, flat, shovel-like bills for scooping up plants. The mouth of a Kutcax is full of small, keratinous teeth for keeping hold of their food and as a weapon.

Behavior

Without going into the disgusting and grisly details, Kutcax have the exact same mating practices as their ancestors. Females will hide their nests in tall grass on land and sit on them for a month, only taking breaks to find food. Hatchlings will be kept safe by having their mothers carry them around inside of their wings. Most hatchlings never reach adulthood due to intense predation. Those hatchlings that do survive don't last long as Kutcax's have very short lifespans. As a result of these population-limiting factors, Kutcax's have a very fast reproduction rate.