thinking up some lore for paradisians pertaining to reproduction.
here's what i've got so far:
- paradisians hatch from eggs. these eggs are large and have a thick, hard outer casing.
- paradisian eggs are never laid unfertilized - the actual egg casing isn't formed until fertilization occurs.
- eggs are laid in clutches that can range anywhere from 2 to 20, the highest recorded.
- a clutch can have multiple sires - in fact, due to how their fertilization process functions, a single individual can have multiple biological "fathers"
- once fertilization occurs, it takes approximately a week before the egg begins forming, during which time additional fertilization events can occur and add to the clutch. from there, it takes approximately 6 earth months for them to be ready to lay, and an additional year before they hatch.
- paradisian hatchlings are smaller than an adult paradisian's head, but are deceptively strong for their size. they can often be seen clinging to the back of a caretaker's head for the first few months after they hatch, using their horns as holds.
- paradisian culture largely raises their children communally.