Roc (SciiFii)

The roc (Haliaeetus longialae), also known as the Madagascar giant eagle, the Madagascan giant eagle, and the Malagasy giant eagle, is a species of sea eagle (Haliaeetus) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across the island of Madagascar to help boost biodiversity. The roc is the largest known eagle to have existed, with the wingspan of up to around 4.3-5 meters (14-16 feet) across and weighing between 17 to 19 kilograms (37-41 lbs). The roc is a carnivore and, unlike most members of its genus, primarily preys on small to medium-sized terrestrial prey such as lemurs and young elephant birds. This eagle builds several aeries, being bulky constructions of twigs and sticks, at a height up to 5.9 meters (19.6 feet) and diameter up to 9 meters (29.5276 feet). They usually place such nests high up on large trees or on rocky outcrops at 20 to 30 meters (66 to 98 feet) above the ground, sometimes in trees up to 55 meters (180 feet). Alternate nests are usually built within 900 meters (3,000 feet) of each other. In one case, two active nests were found to have been located within 100 meters (330 feet). Courtship, which usually occurs between February and March, and reportedly simply consists of a soaring flight above the breeding area. Rocs copulate on the nest after building it. They lay their first greenish-white eggs around April to May. Clutches can contain from one to three eggs, with two being the average. Usually, only one chick survives to adulthood, though in some cases as many as three will successfully fledge. After an incubation period around 39 – 45 days the chicks hatch. The chicks are altricial and covered in whitish-down on hatching. The eaglets fledge in August or early September. Adult plumage is attained at four years of age, but first breeding does not typically occur for another year or two. Eggs and very small nestlings can be preyed on by arboreal mammals, such as omnivorous lemur species, ring-tailed vontsiras, non-native small Indian civets, and birds, usually corvids. Any of these small, clever nest predators rely on distraction and stealth to prey on the eagle's nests and are killed if caught by either of the parents. Once they reach roughly adult size in the fledgling stage, few predators can threaten this species. In one case, a fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) was able to access a nest located on a rock formation and ate a fledgling eaglet, though this is believed to be exceptional. Fully grown fledglings in tree nests are probably invulnerable to predation. No other mammalian carnivores are equal to or greater than the eagle's size can climb trees in the species' range. Due primarily to egg predation and nest collapses, only 45–67% of eggs are successfully reared to adulthood and up to 25% of nestlings may be lost. Once fully grown, though, the eagle has no natural predators. The conservation status of the roc is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the roc is a protected species.