They hunted so heavily because of their insatiable appetites, more than that of a giant owl and a bear combined. They would go so far as to attack almost anything that moved-anything larger than a mouse and anything they thought they could kill-on sight and without any provocation. Little more intelligent than most animals, with more cunning than an owl, these creatures were incredibly aggressive and obstinate and were famous for their ferocity and foul temper. They could be surrounded by a pungent stink. Finally, owlbears had the same long tongues as bears, so it could lap up liquids the same way. Unusually, an owlbear's ears were asymmetric, with one somewhat higher than the other, letting it exactly locate the origin of any sound. They had a transparent third eyelid (known as a nictitating membrane) to guard against dust, dirt, and bright light. Moreover, while it had forward-facing eyes like both bears and owls, it also could rotate its head up to 270°, owing to it having fourteen neckbones (humans had seven and could only turn through 180°), and it could whip its head around with shocking speed. An owlbear could rotate its forearms as a human could, granting it greater strength and agility than a regular bear, giving it a wider range of attack, and enabling it to 'hug' and grapple prey. Other traits were less obvious but still significant. A little larger and heavier than females, a fully grown male specimen stood 8 feet (2.4 meters) high and weighed 1,300 to 1,500 pounds (590 to 680 kilograms), had 2‑inch (5.1‑centimeter) claws, and darker coats than females. Those who'd had run-ins with them and lived often described bestial insanity in its eyes. Their terrible screeches were known to split the night and echo across the land as a warning to others. Their claws were fleshy and, being avian, could be counted as talons. Their beaks were hooked or serrated and had a yellow to dull ivory hue. Their heads were avian, like those of owls, with large round eyes with limpid pupils and rimmed in red. Fur was predominant on their bodies, while feathers became more common at their heads, and they had thick hides. Owlbears were monstrous beasts with the bodies of bears covered in thick shaggy coats of both bristly fur and feathers, ranging in coloration from yellowish brown to a brownish black.
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