Why it evolved

With the collapse of its usual insect prey, the Ash-Grasper evolved to exploit new, less calorically dense food sources. Extended talons allow it to cling to sulfurous ash deposits and volcanic fissures where microbes and specialized fungi concentrate, a process aided by enhanced olfactory sensors that can detect these subtle food sources even in the thin, sulfur dioxide-rich atmosphere. This shift necessitates a broader wing chord for more efficient gliding and perching, but the reduced reliance on airborne insects means less need for significant water storage humps, a trade-off made feasible by the creature's ability to directly access the super-saline brines when necessary.