The challenges of surviving in such an environment are formidable; many animals and plants are unable to survive in the extremes of the heat and cold, and thus are very active during the milder seasons, while going into hibernation for the extreme seasons. The adars fit this description, and have proven themselves to be the dominant predators on their world - and unfortunately for many other species, on other worlds as well.

Adars are long, reptilian-appearing creatures, with long tails, huge clawed forelimbs, hooked rearlimbs and large membranous wings on their backs. They are limited to activity between the temperature ranges of the milder seasons of their homeworld - between - 30 degrees and 90 degrees.

Adars move by using their rearlimbs to propel them through the air with great leaps, while their wings help them glide on air currents. Their forelimbs help them scamper through obstructed areas, such as forests, jungles and swamps, and their tails help them maintain their balance for all movement.

They have an extremely high metabolism, using an immense amount of energy during their active cycles: they must consume their full weight every day to match their energy use. However, they are well adapted to environments where food is scarce - their tails can store excess energy and water. Also, when adars must begin drawing on stored energy, part of the conversion process releases an enzyme which eventually induces a mild "trance" (once the stored energy is almost entirely consumed). The adar will greatly slow its breathing and energy use, remaining motionless, until it can detect a ready food source nearby. Adars in appropriately sheltered areas can survive for upwards of eight standard months while in this state.

Adars are also incredibly adaptive in that they can evolve to metabolize virtually any food source. While they prefer the proteins of living beings, they can eat plants, and in some cases, have adapted to draw sustenance from wood, rock and minerals. This adaptive process can take several months (the greater the difference from traditional food sources, the longer the adaptive process), and adars so adapted have a greatly reduced life span.

Adars have become a serious hazard on the few worlds they have accidently been transplanted to. Because of their adaptive metabolisms, they can thrive in rural areas, densely packed urban areas, and virtually anywhere else food is available. Packs of roaming adars have been reported everywhere from subterranean city waste systems to space stations to isolated farms and ranches. Adars will not hesitate to attack Humans, large grazing animals and just about anything else that might be edible, and their cunning battle tactics make them dangerous opponents, especially at short range.

Adars typically hunt in packs, ranging anywhere from four to over three dozen members. The adars separate, using their wings to cover a vast amount of area. However, once food is located, a single adar will release a piercing scream, which will summon the other members of the pack. The adars will circle their prey, using a series of leaping or "dive-bombing" attacks, often with several adars launching simultaneous attacks from different angles. Needless to say, most targets don't stand a chance when confronted by adars.